It is my pleasure to present the Volume 7 of the Korean Yearbook of International Law, which addresses issues in international law with emphasis on topics of special interest for Korea.
The Articles Section covers 5 articles and offers a forum to discuss broad issues related to interpretation of treaties, international human rights law and international environmental law. First, Professor Jae-Ho Sung at Sungkyunkwan University traces back the historical circumstances surrounding the conclusion of the Protectorate Treaty between Korea and Japan in 1905 and thoroughly analyzes numerous relevant legal materials to support the view that the 1905 Treaty through coercion was both procedurally and substantially invalid under international law.
The second article by Dr. See-Hwan Doh at Northeast Asian History Foundation focuses on the recent Korean Supreme Court case brought by the Korean victims of wartime forced labor against Japanese corporations and Japan’s subsequent measure against Korea to restrict export on certain materials essential for manufacturing semiconductors and displays. He addresses the importance of victim- centered approach and universal value of human rights in resolving the forced labor issues.
The third article by Professor Paolo Palchetti at University of Paris 1 analyzes the cases on wartime compensation claims decided by Italian and Korean courts. Professor Palchetti introduces the historical background of the two cases one involving Italy and Germany and the other between Korea and Japan to present similarities between the two cases, followed by discussion on three key issues on the interpretation of waiver clauses in post-war agreement, law of state immunity concerning compensation claims filed by the victims of international crimes and potential conflict between domestic constitutional principles and the rule of state immunity in international law.
The fourth article by Professor Kil-Won Lee at Chungnam National University examines the key features and limitations of the environmental impact assessment system under the Madrid Protocol and the London Convention. He identifies the environmental impact assessment as an general obligation under international law and highlights the factors to be considered when adopting environmental impact assessment procedures.
The last article in Articles Section by Dr. Seoji Choe presents updates on the progress made by Korea's Refugee Act by introducing some of the key standards in relevant court cases and issues related to the amendment to the Refugee Act.
The Special Report Section includes the topics that cover both the public and private international law issues as follows: the trade tension between the United States and Japan and its implication for Korea, opening of Korea's legal service based on Korea-EU FTA, comfort women lawsuits from a legal point of view from private international law, crowdfunding regulation in Korea from private international law perspective, secured transaction in Korea.
The Recent Development Section assembles a selection of recent issues including nuclear energy cooperation between Korea and the United States, entry of China and Russia into Korea's Air Defense Identification Zone, deportation of the fishermen from North Korea, pending cases at WTO involving Korea, a brief summary on Singapore Convention on Mediation and Resolutions made by the National Assembly during the second half of 2019.
The Contemporary Practice and Judicial Decisions Section introduces selected court cases related to public international law and private international law rendered in 2019. The judicial decisions in public international law cover the Constitution Court case, which deals with the constitutionality of Korea’s Act on National Human Rights Commission, Seoul High Court’s decision involving revocation of refugee status, the Supreme Court's decision on the interpretation of a domicile under the Enforcement Decree of the Income Tax Act. The court cases in private international law are provided by Judge Jiyong Jang at Judicial Policy Research Institute. The judicial decisions in private international law cover the Supreme Court's decisions on standard of determining international jurisdiction, law applicable to torts, and insurable interest under the U.K Life Assurance Act.
We would like to express our appreciation to all the authors for making this volume possible. My special gratitude must go to Professor Seung-Hwan Choi, Editor-in-Chief of KYIL for his guidance and support for the editorial team. I also take this opportunity to welcome and thank our new staff editor, Dr. Taewon Kim whose role has been vital in ensuring the high standards of KYIL.
I truthfully hope that you will find the issues in this volume interest and welcome your contribution.


Lee Seryon
Executive Editor
Korean Yearbook of International Law