1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Asian Society of International Law (President: Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Paik Jin-hyun) will co-host the 6th Conference of the Asian Society of International Law in Seoul. The conference, to be held under the theme “Asia and International Law in Times of Uncertainty,” is Asia’s largest academic conference, which brings together about 500 international law scholars and related officials from some 50 countries around the world.

※ The Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) is a regional academic organization established in 2007 to promote exchange of information on international law among academics, experts and officials in the public sector in Asia. It holds a conference in the form of a large-scale academic seminar every two years.

- Date and venue of the 6th conference: August 25-26, Lotte Hotel in Seoul

2. The Asian Society of International Law said that the advent of the Trump administration in the US, Brexit, growing anti-immigration sentiments, and a strong increase in nationalist and protectionist trends are posing a big challenge to the global order based on international law, and that especially East Asia is more vulnerable to such challenge, as the region has achieved economic growth and regional peace based on internationalism and free trade. The Society expected the upcoming conference to serve as an opportunity to discuss a range of ways to maintain international law and international cooperation in uncertain times when the foundation for the liberal world order is shaking.

3. At the opening ceremony on August 25, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun will deliver a congratulatory speech and 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will make a keynote speech under the theme “role of the UN and international law in times of uncertainty.” The speeches will be followed by two plenary sessions and panel presentations on thirty-three topics.

o Participants from the ROK side will include former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, former President of the International Criminal Court Song Sang-hyun, and member of the UN International Law Commission Park Ki-gab. Participants from abroad will include former Prime Minister of Jordan Al-Khasawneh, former Foreign Minister of Indonesia Hassa Wirajuda, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Vladimir Golitsyn, and Judge of the International Court of Justice Xue Hanqin.


* unofficial translation