• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.139-167
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• 2013

Mediation, which is part of ADR, is a method used to settle disputes amicably by employing a third party who is in a neutral position. Utilization and attention on meditation are increasing in place of litigation and arbitration owing to its effectiveness in terms of time, cost, and effectiveness in achieving an amicable settlement. As to Korea, mediation at the civil level was employed by the KCAB in July 2012 but its utilization was in ABC stage compared to mediation at the governmental and judicial levels. Based on this situation, this study reviewed the guideline and system of the KCAB through a comparison of the management system between the KCAB and AAA where mediation was in good use. This study further suggests solutions as to the development of an international commercial mediation system First, the KCAB rule is needed to create a mediation language, mediation place, mediator internationalization, and so on. Second, a system backup is necessary to ensure the enforceability and effectiveness of mediation. Third, a unified mediation law in Korea is desirable for the harmonization of mediations at civil, governmental, and judicial levels. The unified mediation law, if it is made, may lead to an international base where this requirement exists. Fourth, advertising the merits of mediation to the public is necessary. Fifth, securing specialized mediators and relevant training are essential. If the above requirements are implemented, Korea would advance in international commercial disputes.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.27
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• pp.29-65
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• 2005

Northeast Asian economies have achieved high levels of growth due to a stable economic environments and economic policy reforms for free trade. As Northeast Asia has been risen as big bloc in the world and in the future in case free trade agreement could be concluded, trade volume could be increased dramatically. And it is evident that disputes will be increased in Northeast Asian economic bloc. Arbitration must be popular in resolving international commercial disputes in Northeast Asian bloc in order to increase the volume of intra-trade in the bloc. Through arbitration, the parties can have full autonomy and can resolve disputes independently, impartially and without delay. But in order for the parties to make use of arbitration in the bloc, they must be fully aware of the arbitration laws of Northeast Asian nations in view of the similarity and difference of the laws. Therefore, this paper deals with arbitral award in Northeast Asian Nations' arbitration laws in view of comparative law.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.191-210
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• 2017

The old sources of competitive edge and value added were land, labor, and capital. In today's knowledge-based economy in the 21st century, technology is attracting attention as a new engine of growth. That paradigm shift of world economy has resulted in the global spread of technology transfer and the gradual increase of trade of intangible goods including patents and know-how as well as tangible goods in international trade. An international license agreement is a representative form of technology transfer. In license agreements, the providers of technology keep their ownership of technology, allow the implementation of technology to the users of technology only for a certain period of time, and receive loyalty as a reward. Economic profit through such technology trade can be realized with the smooth implementation and termination of agreement. International license agreements are different from sales contracts, which represent international business transaction based on mutual obligation, in many aspects in that they target intangible goods of technology and aim for rent for a certain period of time. This study thus set out to examine issues that could be controversial in the main and individual obligation of the parties in international license agreements and provide implications helpful for the prevention of disputes in advance.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.121-145
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• 2008

Northeast Asia is increasingly making a transition to distinctive and crucial region in the 21st Century and growing into one of world's top three economic spheres along with the EU and NAFTA. In 2003, Korean government announced the Northeast Asian economic hub country plan as an important agenda. As a means of coping with the changing global environment, Korean government designated Incheon in 2003 as the country's first Free Economic Zone ahead of Busan and Gwangyang Bay in the south of the country because Incheon has a geographical advantage linking North America and Europe with Incheon International Airport and Incheon Seaport. The purpose of this paper is to make research on establishment and operation of an arbitral body entitled ${\ulcorner}International Arbitration Center{\lrcorner}$ (IAC) within Incheon Free Economic Zone(IFEZ). For the purpose of this, the writer in this paper, reviewed the necessity of the IAC's establishment and its legal basis as well as the role and function of the Center. Also, the writer presented plans for how to operate the IAC and how to cooperate with the key arbitral organizations of foreign countries for the settlement promotion of commercial disputes including trade and investment. With development of the IFEZ, world-renowned enterprises will invest in the Incheon economic bloc and conduct economic activities, business operation, marketing, logistics, financing, etc. In this connection, diverse types of commercial disputes are expected to occur between foreign companies entering the IFEZ and Korean firms. In this connection, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board(KCAB) has been operating its liaison office in the IFEZ since 2004. However, in view of the increasing arbitration demand, the IAC should be set up in the IFEZ in the near future by the positive support of the government in the respect of both administration and finance because the free economic zone-related law provides for the installation of arbitration organization. For the success of the IAC, the Center will have to provide not only good quality of arbitral services that can satisfy arbitration parties but also need to conduct researches and make efforts so that arbitration can be utilized well in the IFEZ. If the IFEZ can provide advantageous business environments to those multinational enterprises intending to the Incheon economic bloc, the IAC will also contribute to the settlement of commercial disputes arising from the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea in view of the geographical advantage and logistic benefit of the IFEZ. Finally, this paper also suggests a new model for a joint dispute resolution system by the initiative of Korean government and Korean arbitral organizations for the settlement of commercial disputes within Northeast Asia, for which the CAMCA(Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Center for the Americas) of NAFTA can be a good example.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.151-176
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• 2011

The main objective of this study is twofold. The first is to investigate the main currents of Korean commercial arbitration. The second is to investigate the research methodology of Korean commercial arbitration in the perspective of disciplinary fusion perspective. The main findings of Korean commercial arbitration are as follows: first, the incidence of commercial arbitration increased in the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board during the period of 2006-2010, second, the primary causes of trade claims are disputes related with payment and those related with sales contracts, third and finally, the number of countries seeking to resolve disputes through arbitration has increased, including European countries. In this setting, it is necessary to investigate commercial arbitration through the inter-disciplinary perspectives. This study suggests that there are five research methodologies of commercial arbitration. They are legal theory related methodology, institutional methodology, cultural methodology, causal methodology and empirical methodology. Traditionally, the legal profession leads the field of commercial arbitration. However, it is necessary to introduce other elements to the field of commercial arbitration. This study highlights the disciplinary fusion approach among five research methodologies of commercial arbitration.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3-32
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• 2007

This age is called the age of global trade, and the World Trade Organization is a forerunner in promoting the global free trade through multilateral negotiations as the global level. On the other hand, regional economic cooperation such as North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) is appearing, saying that promotion by WTO takes too much time. As is known to everybody, Europe is on the way of integrating member states through EU not to mention economic cooperation. Even in Asia such tendency is shown through ASEAN, Korea, China and Japan in Northeast Asia share geographical proximity, many common historical experiences, and similar cultural norms and values although they have disparities in stages of development, trade and economic policies, and financial and legal frameworks. Under the situation, efforts have been made between three countries of Korea, China and Japan for the conclusion of investment agreements including FTA. If the conclusion of the FTA between the three countries would be realized, it would promote regional trade and investment, contributing to economic growth in the Northeast Asian region. The writer in this paper reviewed the settlement of private commercial dispute including investment dispute arising from the FTA and investment agreements. The investment dispute is quite different from an ordinary commercial dispute arising from commercial transactions in view of disputing parties, applicable laws and rules, etc. Therefore it is a problem of vital importance that the parties interested in investment under the FTA as well as the relevant investment agreement should understand and cope with the settlement mechanism of investment disputes arising therefrom. The ICSID Convention provides facilities for the conciliation and arbitration of disputes between member countries and investors who qualify as nationals of other member countries. All contracting states of the ICSID Convention are required by the Convention to recognize and enforce the ICSID arbitral awards. The New York Convention(formally called "United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards") is also applicable for the enforcement of arbitral awards to be rendered under the FTA. As to applicable rules, the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules may be required for the settlement of investment disputes under the FTA. This Rules has adopted by the internationally recognized arbitral organizations although it was developed primarily for use in ad hoc arbitration. The promotion of arbitral cooperation may be realized through agreements between arbitral institutions. Especially under the NAPTA system, a central common system was established to resolve jointly private commercial disputes arising from such free trades by the initiative of arbitral organizations among the member countries. It is called Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Center for the Americas(CAMCA), which may be a good example for the settlement promotion of the private commercial disputes between Korea and other relevant countries.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.25-45
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• 2018

International commercial arbitration is an inseparable part of today's international commerce. International transactions are becoming increasingly complex. Problems brought by multi-party and multi-contract arbitration pose problems for traditional arbitration systems. The Korean Commercial Arbitration Board(KCAB) has released updated International Arbitration Rules(2016 Rules) and has adopted innovations similar to those introduced in the rules of major international arbitration institutions in recent years. The changes in the 2016 Rules are intended to increase the efficiency of the arbitral process, and introduce the process for consolidation of claims. For international commerce contracts, it would be appropriate, and necessary, to adopt a multi-party arbitration clause, as consolidated arbitration provides effective resolutions for multi-party disputes.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.3-31
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• 2014

As all aspects of international activity have kept growing in good transaction, transnational investments, joint ventures, and the licensing of intellectual property, it is inevitable for disputes to increase across national frontiers. International disputes can be settled by arbitration and ADR. In the situation presented in the paper, any dispute shall be finalized by arbitration and conciliation in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Inter-Korean Commercial Arbitration in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex has become the principal method of resolving disputes in trade, commerce, and investment in accordance with the "Agreement on South-North Commercial Dispute Settlement Procedures," "Agreement on Organization and Operation of Inter-Korean Commercial Arbitration Committee," and the Annexed Agreement on "Organization and Operation of Inter-Korean Commercial Arbitration Committee" (2013). But the follow-up measures of the said agreements have not been fulfilled. Some prerequisite measures of the Inter-Korean commercial arbitration must be satisfied. In order to proceed with arbitration and conciliation in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, we need to ask the following: Does the status of an arbitrational matter? Should an agreement to arbitrate contain a choice of law clause? Should one provide for one arbitrator or three? How should the arbitrators be selected? What is the relation between party-appointed arbitrators and the presiding arbitrator (neutral arbitrator)? Do arbitrators compromise more than the litigation? Can conciliation be combined with arbitration? To execute the enactment of arbitration regulations, the contents of the Arbitration Rules of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (South) and the Korea International Trade Arbitration Committee (North), together with the Korean Arbitration Act and External Arbitration Act of North Korea and the UNCITRAL Model Arbitration Law and UNCITRAL l Arbitration Rules are reflected in the Rules. There are many aspects of the Inter-Korean Commercial Arbitration. It is essential to understand key elements; namely, the arbitration agreement, appointment of arbitrator, arbitral proceeding and arbitral award, and enforcement and setting aside of arbitral award. This research deals with five chapters. Chapter 1 provides the introduction. Chapter 2 deals with trade volume between South and North Korea and the kinds of dispute in Gaeseong. Chapter 3 addresses contents and follow-up measures of the agreement on the "South-North Commercial Dispute Settlement Procedures," "Agreement on Organization and Operation of Inter-Korean Commercial Arbitration Committee," and the Annexed Agreement on "Organization and Operation of Inter-Korean Commercial Arbitration Committee" (2013). Chapter 4 features the problems and tasks of the pertinent agreements. Chapter 5 gives the conclusion. Enabling parties to find an amicable solution to the dispute in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex can lead to a useful and appropriate framework either through direct negotiation or by resorting to conciliation or mediation in accordance with pertinent agreements and follow-up measures contained in the agreements.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.129-142
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• 2019

This paper draws implications on the ship finance of the Korean ECAs for shipbuilding industry from the perspective of WTO ASCM through studying the trade disputes on export credits. In consideration of the underwriting practice on the case-by-case basis, the ECAs' law regimes and their ship finance programs as such would be judged not conferring a benefit. The ship finance of international commercial banks could be treated as a market benchmark for the purpose of determining the existence of benefit in the ECA ship finance. The ECAs share securities with international commercial banks for the same exposure to the risks in a syndicate. Therefore, WTO DSB would rule that the ECA ship finance confers no benefit for individual transactions. The items (j) and (k-1) of ASCM Annex I are not allowed to interpret a contrario.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.161-182
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• 1999

The purpose of this paper is to examine the applicability of the UNIDROIT Principle in international commercial arbitration. For this purpose, I have studies the basic two characters of this Principles: One is of general rule(principle); Another is of international and commercial character. According to CISG, questions concerning matters governed by the CISG which are not expressly settled in it are to be settled in conformity with the general principles, so this Principles will cover many questions which are not expressly settled in the applicable law, by gap-filing, analogy or usage. In the preamble of this Principles, there are five cases in which the Principles shall be applied or may be applied. If the disputes are submitted to the any national court, the application of this Principles would be restricted because of the mandatory rules of national, international or supranational origin. But the disputes are submitted to arbitration, the arbitrator would have more discretional powers to apply the Principles than the judge. The reason is that in the arbitration, the arbitrators do not bear obligation to act in conformity with the law applicable by virtue of the rules of rules of private international law. I also examined the applicability of the Principles in cases which there are no mentions in preamble: When the international arbitrators choose the Principles; When the arbitrators decide ex aequo et bono; When the both parties have not chosen the governing law; When there are gaps in domestic law chosen by the parties; When the applicable domestic law is insufficient. In all these cases, the Principles may be applied more easily and conveniently in arbitration than in litigation. Thus to envisage the application of this Principle in international arbitration, first both parties in international commercial contracts should incorporate this Principle as a governing law in their contracts, and second, the arbitrators should try to apply this Principles in their arbitrations by choice, analogy, general principles or usage.