Efforts to Enhance Deep Seabed Activities and Korean Law on Exploration for and Exploitation of Resources in the Deep Seabed Area

초록

The enactment of Korean domestic law, in addition to accommodating for the domestic measures required by unclos, is understood as a measure of Korean nationals to actively comply with the international and domestic standard of activities in the Area and to ensure sincere implementation of such activities. Naturally, since the Korean Law on Exploration for and Exploitation of Resources in the Deep Seabed Area (hereinafter referred to as “Korean Law on Deep Seabed Area”) itself is an integration of unclos and the isa rules into the Korean law, with an aim to administer Korean nationals' activities in the Area and to strengthen the international performance of it, this Korean Law on Deep Seabed Area will not be prominent except for the procedural contents related to notification-authorization-issuance of warranty. However, it is worth noting that the Authority's management capacity during the later exploitation phase, as was the case with exploration phase, needs to be improved. Efficient management of activities in the Area has significant limits in its function and effectiveness notwithstanding fulfillment of the sponsoring States' and contractors' duties. As such, it is meaningful that the Korean Law on Deep Seabed Area re-angled its focus from exploitation to management of activities in the Area. © KONINKLIJKE BRILL NV, LEIDEN, 2019.