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Korea Herald
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Diplomats urge removing ICC jurisdiction limits at Seoul event
Conference reviews Rome Statute, calls for unity against crimes of aggression Diplomats and legal experts reviewed the Rome Statute and advocated for greater international support for the International Criminal Court, particularly in addressing crimes of aggression at the event, Conference on the Review of the ICC's Rome Statute, held in Seoul on Thursday. A conference hosted by the embassies of Germany, Estonia and Poland at the Goethe-Institut Seoul drew over 100 participants, including diplomats, students and legal professionals. In his keynote remarks, German Ambassador to Korea Georg Schmidt underscored the urgent relevance of revisiting the Rome Statute amid rising global conflicts. 'It should be relevant to any person in the world who reads the news and is concerned about what's happening around us,' said Schmidt. 'If I look at Europe, we have a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, including the intention to annex another country's territory.' Reflecting on history, Schmidt drew parallels to the 1991 Gulf War, warning of a dangerous regression to power-driven international relations. 'I wish we had a stronger global response,' he said. 'One of the fundamental principles is that we do not accept territorial changes by force.' Schmidt also emphasized the emotional debates around the ICC, particularly in Africa, noting that the Court still represents a 'signal of hope' for the vulnerable. 'Just the very idea that someone is watching, that perhaps things will eventually change, gives hope. I think that's a very powerful message,' he said. He commended Korea's dedication to international law, underscoring the influential roles of Judge Park Hee-kwon at the International Criminal Court and Paik Jin-hyun, former judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Their contributions, he noted, 'further underscore Korea's steadfast commitment to a rules-based international order.' But Schmidt raised concerns that international institutions like the ICC, WHO and WTO are under threat. 'There seems to be a real attempt to undermine the rules-based international order as we know it,' he cautioned. 'We risk becoming pawns in the strategic games of global powers.' Ahead of the Review Conference of the Rome Statute in New York this July, Schmidt urged participants to see it as an opportunity. 'We must send a strong signal to the international community that we reject the law of the strongest and support a rules-based order where protection is offered through law, not just through force.' 'In my 30 years as a diplomat, I've felt that yes, there is a hunger for food — but across so many cultures, there is an equal hunger for justice,' Schmidt said. 'That hunger for justice must not go unanswered,' he urged, concluding his remarks. Estonian Ambassador Sten Schwede echoed Schmidt's concerns and reaffirmed Estonia's early adoption of the Kampala Amendments, which define the crime of aggression. 'We regret the significant jurisdictional restrictions introduced,' said Schwede. 'The ICC cannot exercise jurisdiction over aggression by states not party to the Rome Statute. We've seen the consequences of that in the war against Ukraine.' 'There is a strong need to remove these limitations to empower the ICC. Estonia believes this is a global issue, and we urge all stakeholders to support the review process,' he added. Polish Charge d'affaires Artur Gradzluk also lent his support for stronger ICC authority. 'One of the greatest challenges is the enforcement of international law and the prevention of impunity,' he said, citing Poland's own history and geography as motivation for supporting legal accountability. Gradzluk called for unifying the jurisdictional regime for all four core international crimes— war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and aggression — while urging caution not to undermine past progress. 'We must approach the principle of a unified jurisdiction carefully to avoid creating new divisions among state parties,' he said. The event was part of a series of regional meetings aimed at galvanizing international consensus ahead of July's crucial Rome Statute Review Conference, held with hopes to push the issue onto political agendas — not just in Korea but across Asia and beyond.
Korea Herald
27-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
German envoy calls for deeper ties in defense, climate
Germany has entered a new era of defense and infrastructure investment, driven by a dramatic shift in fiscal policy and a renewed call for international cooperation amid escalating military tensions, the country's top envoy to South Korea said Wednesday. 'To enable this shift, Germany passed a constitutional amendment — approved by a two-thirds majority in parliament — allowing greater borrowing flexibility through two special funds totaling an estimated 500 billion euros ($538 billion),' said German Ambassador Georg Schmidt at the Global Business Forum held Wednesday evening in Seoul. The event was organized by The Korea Herald and Herald Business. One of the new funds is dedicated to defense and security, covering cyber defense, civilian protection and aid to Ukraine. The other targets infrastructure and climate-related transformation, including 100 billion euros earmarked for sustainable projects. 'This is more than just meeting NATO's goal of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense. It's about fundamentally rethinking our approach to security,' Schmidt said. He noted that the shift reflects broader geopolitical concerns — particularly growing uncertainty over US security commitments to Europe and escalating threats from Russia, which he said has effectively transformed into a wartime economy, with around 60 percent of its national expenditures now devoted to military purposes. Schmidt emphasized that these developments are relevant not only to Europe, but also to countries like Korea. 'Germany's firm support for Ukraine sends a message not only to Russia, but also to North Korea,' he said. Schmidt highlighted Korea's formal defense and security partnership with the European Union, saying it opens the door to future cooperation in emerging security technologies. At the weekly forum, Kim Yong-sub, founder of Trend Hitchhiking and an independent business insight provider, also spoke about how shifting social values among younger generations are reshaping consumer behavior in Korea. 'We're now seeing more consumers — particularly those in their 20s and 30s — who no longer view marriage, homeownership or having children as essential life goals,' Kim said. 'Instead, they seek meaning through personal hobbies, pet ownership, solo travel or simply choosing to remain single.' He added that this shift is already reshaping Korea's economic landscape, with declining demand for products targeting traditional nuclear families and rising sales in sectors like home fitness, pet care, wellness and single-person appliances. 'Companies that continue to target a lifestyle that fewer people aspire to will struggle to stay relevant,' he said. Next, Chae Sang-wook, CEO of Connected Ground and host of the real estate YouTube channel Chaebushim, provided a macroeconomic perspective on the broader implications of Korea's record-low fertility rate of 0.75 birth in a woman's lifetime. 'This isn't just a social issue. Fewer births mean a smaller domestic market and shrinking GDP (gross domestic product),' Chae said. He added that housing market trends already reflect this shift: While the top 20 percent of apartments in Seoul have recovered or surpassed 2021 price levels, the majority remain below prepandemic prices — especially when adjusted for inflation and the Korean won's depreciation against the US dollar. Beyond demographics and consumption trends, Chae emphasized the importance of strategic asset planning in an increasingly volatile global environment.
