• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.506-529
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• 2013

Nagoya protocol, alias ABS adopted in UN Convention on Biodiversity in 2010, has prompted governments in many countries to prepare strategic plans with regards to both the conservation of domestic bio-resources and the use of those with foreign origin. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of policy responses of Korean governments to ABS (Access and Benefit Sharing) and to make suggestions for a more integrative and efficient governance system for related ministries and institutions. Our analysis indicates that while most ministries have designated laws specifying various measures for the conservation of domestic bio-resources such as protected biological species or natural areas, just a couple of them have instituted measures governing the use of those resources and the benefit-sharing arising from it. We conclude that policy responses of Korean government are more focused on the conservation of bio-resources leaving the use of them ill-addressed. The study, thus, suggests that measures of 'bio-resource user country' be instituted in addition to those of 'bio-resource supplier country'. For instance, with regards to the use of bio-resources the roles and remits of related ministries had better be clarified and coordinated. The uncertainty over the explicit indication of 'place of origin' of bio-resources as a requirement of patent grant need to be cleared as well.