A Study on the Legal Liabilities and Countermeasures against Piracy

Choi, Suk-Yoon; Lee, Yun-Cheol; Hong, Sung-Hwa; Park, Jeong-Ki

Journal of Navigation and Port Research 2005;29(1):43-58.
Published online February 28, 2005.

해적행위에 대한 법적 책임과 대응방안

최석윤, 이윤철, 홍성화, 박정기

A Study on the Legal Liabilities and Countermeasures against Piracy

Suk-Yoon Choi, Yun-Cheol Lee, Sung-Hwa Hong, Jeong-Ki Park

Abstract

Piracy is the enemy of the human race. Pirates commit acts of murder, robbery, plunder or other villainous deeds at sea, cruelly against humanity. The Republic of Korea(ROK), as a big maritime country, is obliged to suppress piracy under international treaties it ratified, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the two 1988 Conventions against maritime terrorism. The Korean government is recently taking a positive attitude towards the regional cooperation which is necessary for the suppression of piracy in the waters of Southeast Asia. In spite of the effects of international cooperation to prevent piracy, it is recently on an increasing trend every year. Such circumstances may have a bad effects on the sound development of world economy by means of trade at sea as well as treat to the safety of crews and safe operation of ships. This paper aims to suggest the countermeasures against piracy in terms of criminal law, civil law and international law in order to secure safe operation of vessels at sea.

Key Words: Piracy;UN Convention on the Law of the Sea;1988 Convention against maritime terrorism;Countermeasures against Piracy