Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |
South Korean Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea, in
celebration of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute jointly held the ICC Asia-Pacific
Region High-Level Seminar in Seoul from November 14~ 15,2023.
The Rome Statute was adopted on 17 July 1998 by the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court that was opened for signature by all States in
Rome at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy until 17 October 1998. After that, the Statute was opened for signature in
New York, at United Nations Headquarters until 31 December 2000.
The ICC Asia-Pacific Region High-Level Seminar was held to discuss the past, present, and future of the Rome Statute and a vision for strengthening solidarity.
The ICC (International Criminal Court) was attended by Piotr Hofmansky, President of the Court, Justice Chang-ho Jeong, President of the Conference of the Parties Silvia Fernandez and Ganzoric and about 100 officials including Damdin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mongolia, high-ranking figures from the Asia-Pacific region, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, and Acting Chief Justice Ahn Cheol-sang.
The Republic of Korea actively participated in the drafting process of the Rome Statute, and since joining the Rome Statute in 2002, Korean legal professionals have performed key positions at the ICC and have continued to maintain a close cooperative relationship with the ICC to secure the *universality* of the ICC to increase the number of parties.
The Republic of Korea's history includes former Chief Justice Song Sang-hyun served as a judge from 2003 to 2015 and as a director from 2009 to 2015, also include ICC Judge Chang-ho Jeong serving from 2015 to 2024, Kwon Oh-gon, former Chairman of the Conference of the Parties (term from 2017 to 2021), and now Baek Ki-bong, a lawyer, is scheduled to run as a Korean candidate in the ICC judge election to be held in December this year.
*Universality*: States parties should ensure that the ICC becomes a court that effectively punishes serious crimes with a principle of contributing to international peace by exercising universal jurisdiction through expansion of numbers.
Han Dong-hoon, the minister of Justice in his opening speech emphasized that, “We must bring together wisdom for the ICC to successfully carry out its role in responding to serious crimes against humanity, protecting life and human rights. The close solidarity with the international community as well as the capabilities of countries in the Asia-Pacific region are essential.”
Kim Sang-hwan, Director of the National Court Administration said in welcome remarks, “I agree with the importance of expanding the role of the ICC, and the Korean judiciary will continue to actively support and sponsor the ICC.”
In a situation where the active participation of the ICC and the parties is more necessary than ever due to recent inhumane acts and recurring conflicts in the international community, the ICC Asia-Pacific Region seminar raised the will to realize an international criminal justice court and the importance of international cooperation.
This will serve as an opportunity to encourage active participation from countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
In future, the government of the Republic of Korea will protect peace and uphold the universal values of humanity.
“We will actively participate in the efforts of the ICC and the parties to protect it” said the statement issued by the ministry of justice.
