Res Communis

Pacific Rim National Space Law Summit: Korea, South / 环太平洋国家空间法会议: 韩国

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The next presentation was Current Status and Recent Developments in Korea’s National Space Law and Policy and Its Relevance to Pacific Rim Space Law and Activities by Prof. Sang-Myon Rhee, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea (South).

Prof. Rhee began by noting that South Korea is a late comer to space activities, and that while it lacked it’s own launch capability, it had multiple satellites launched through cooperation with other States. Its law began with the Air & Space Industry Development Promotion Act (1987). This law has been followed on to with the Space Development Promotion Act (2005-2008), and the Space Liability Act (2008). He also noted that there was a Policy for Regional Cooperation.

He said that the Space Development Promotion Act was meant to implement the space treaties in Korea. It sets out a basic plan for the development of space activities, establishes a national space committee, allows for the designation of Space Development Institutes (the only one currently designated is the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)), allows for the registration of space objects, requires launch permits, and establishes liability for damage caused by space accidents. The liability provision require insurance for damage caused to third parties. The Act goes on to establish a program for civil space activities and makes provision for the rescue of astronauts and the return of space objects.

Prof. Rhee then discussed Korea’s newly enacted Space Liability Act. The purpose of the act is to “protect the aggrieved party fully.” He said that the act requires the launching party to pay for damage except in certain situations such armed conflict when liability only attaches when there is “willful misconduct.” He stated that the act explicitly states that product liability is not applicable in space. The limit of liability under the act is $200 billion Korea (South) Won (KRW).

He concluded by saying that compared to the advances in technology, the legal regime has developed slowly. He also said there is prospect for changes. He endorsed elevating KARI from a research institute to a national space agency. He noted that the the liability cap was low and, due to currency fluctuation, should probably be in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) instead of KRW. Finally, he said that there are great prospects for further regional cooperation.

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Chinese translation by Ryan Grimm, J.D. Candidate, Tulane University:

环太平洋国家空间法会议: 韩国

大会第二天的第三位发言人是首尔大学(汉城国立大学)李昌永(音译)教授，其演讲的题目为“韩国空间法的法律现状与最新发展及其与环太平洋空间法律和活动的相关性”。

李教授首先指出韩国应列为较晚发展空间活动的国家。韩国目前虽然还没有自己的发射能力，但是韩国通过与他国的合作发射过了多枚卫星。他说韩国的空间法从1987年的《促进航空航天业法》开始的。该法的出台以后，陆续又有2005至2008年的《促进空间发展法》以及2008年的《空间责任法》出台，另外还出台了一项区域合作政策。

针对《促进空间发展法》，李教授说该法试图在国内执行各个空间条约；由于该法还制定了基本空间活动的发展计划，通过建立了国家空间委员会，允许以“空间发展局”指明相关机构——韩国航空航天研究所。该法管理登记空间物体登记，申请发射许可证以及建立空间事故所造成的损失的责任制度。该法也制定了民事空间活动，太空员的营救以及空间物体的再入程序。

随后，李教授谈起韩国新颁发的《空间责任法》。他说制定该法的目的是为了“完全保护受害方”。除了特殊情况之外，例如武装冲突时，只有“故意处理不当”才负责任，该法皆要求发射方赔偿损失。李教授同时也指出在空间没有产品责任，其最高赔偿金额为两千亿韩币。

最后李教授认为较之科技的进步，相关的法律制度发展相对滞后。他建议把韩国航空航天研究所提升为国家航天局。他还指出韩国的最高赔偿金额较低，而且由于币值波动，应该采用特别提款权(SDRs)，而并非以韩币提款。总之，他认为区域合作的前景相当乐观。