• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.1-24
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• 2009

As commercial use of genetic resources increases in modern society, calls for fair and equitable sharing of the benefits thereof have become increasingly prominent, particularly from developing countries. As a result, negotiations have been ongoing for the "International Regime on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)" for genetic resources as a successor to the non-binding Bonn Guideline. 2010 has been set as the target date for the Agreement. As South Korea is more likely to be a user country of genetic resources, it will be necessary for it to take part in the negotiating process and contribute to creating the International Regime on ABS, to ensure both appropriate access to genetic resources and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising there from. To develop appropriate response strategies for South Korea, it is critical not only to closely examine the negotiations within the framework of the CBD but also to engage in discussions within thescope of related international organizations and domestic legislation. To achieve this goal, it is imperative for South Korea to form a comprehensive Government Response System, composed of relevant governmental bodies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministry of Environment, etc.