Busan City Holds Korea's First 'Maritime Mock Trial to Urge Establishment of Maritime Court'

At 3:30 PM on the 21st at Lotte Hotel Busan, Marine Autonomy Promotion Council, Korea Maritime University Maritime Law RIS Project Group, and City Co-host

City to continue various events and promotions until the maritime court establishment bill passes the National Assembly, focusing all efforts

Busan City, together with the Maritime Autonomy Promotion Council (Chairman Park Jae-yul) and Korea Maritime and Ocean University’s 'Maritime Law RIS Project Group (Director Jung Young-seok),' will hold a 'Maritime Mock Trial for the Establishment of the Maritime Court in Busan' at 3:30 PM on the 21st at Lotte Hotel Busan.

This event differs from previous policy forums and rallies aimed at establishing the maritime court, as it will be conducted as a mock trial focused on maritime litigation requiring high-level expertise, led primarily by university students.

The event was organized to promote Busan domestically and internationally as the optimal location with the capacity to establish and operate a maritime court. The National Korea Maritime and Ocean University, a cradle for nurturing global maritime talents and a national university specializing in maritime studies, joined forces through its 'Maritime Law RIS Promotion Team.'

Through this mock trial, it is expected that the necessity of establishing the maritime court in Busan and the potential regional economic effects on the city can be previewed.

The city has been working with the Maritime Autonomy Promotion Council to make the 'Establishment of the Maritime Court in Busan' a key initiative in the maritime sector and has been jointly conducting legislative activities in the National Assembly.

Following last year, a policy forum urging legislation for the establishment of the maritime court was held at the National Assembly on November 6 this year, discussing the necessity of the maritime court for creating a global hub city and future legislative directions.

Additionally, efforts continue to identify tasks for securing practical maritime authority and to propose government and legislative recommendations to enhance global urban competitiveness by leveraging the characteristics of maritime, port, and fisheries sectors.

The event will begin with an opening address by Jung Young-seok, Director of the 'Maritime Law RIS Project Group' at Korea Maritime and Ocean University, followed by a welcome speech from Park Jae-yul, Chairman of the Maritime Autonomy Promotion Council, and congratulatory remarks from Mayor Park Hyung-joon and Kim Yong-min, Chairman of the Busan Bar Association’s Maritime Court Establishment Promotion Committee. Then, students from Korea Maritime and Ocean University will conduct the maritime mock trial.

Based on Korea’s first maritime litigation case, this maritime mock trial reconstructs a lawsuit between a shipowner and an insurance company regarding the cause of a ship sinking, referencing UK marine insurance law and Supreme Court precedents. This provides an immersive experience as if sitting in the courtroom gallery and an exciting atmosphere akin to watching a theatrical play.

In particular, the vivid reenactment of the ship accident scenario and the interpretation of specialized maritime legal principles such as international private law and UK marine insurance law during the mock trial are expected to offer insights into the future activation of shipping service industries, including contract review, legal and arbitration services, and education related to shipping. It also aims to prevent the outflow of over 300 billion KRW annually in maritime litigation costs overseas and to glimpse the growth potential of a high value-added shipping industry centered in Busan.

Taking this maritime mock trial as an opportunity, the city plans to focus all its efforts on various events, promotions, and creating a vibrant atmosphere to firmly establish Busan as the optimal location for the maritime court until the legislative bill for its establishment passes in the National Assembly, while strengthening public awareness campaigns.

Park Jae-yul, Chairman of the Maritime Autonomy Promotion Council, stated, “It has been over ten years since various civic groups united their efforts to advocate for the establishment of the maritime court in Busan. Since the 22nd National Assembly convened, the related bill was introduced for the first time, and we even gained the Supreme Court’s recognition of the necessity for the maritime court. We hope citizens will continue to unite their strength until the maritime court in Busan becomes a reality.”

Mayor Park Hyung-joon said, “Together with the Maritime Autonomy Promotion Council, which tirelessly works to realize a global maritime city, we have prepared this first-ever maritime mock trial in Korea thoroughly and meaningfully. We hope the maritime court will be promptly established in Busan, solidifying its status as a maritime industry hub with world-class global logistics infrastructure and the concentration of shipping, port, logistics, and financial institutions, thereby further strengthening South Korea’s maritime competitiveness.”

Poster for the Maritime Mock Trial to Urge the Establishment of the Maritime Court.