Paik Jin-hyun is a South Korean jurist and legal scholar specializing in international law. He is best known for his service as a judge on the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), an independent judicial body established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Paik served as a judge of ITLOS from 2009 to 2023. Between 2017 and 2020, he held the position of President of the Tribunal. His tenure in these roles involved the adjudication of international disputes concerning maritime boundaries, environmental protection, and the interpretation of maritime law.
In addition to his judicial career, Paik has maintained a significant academic presence. He earned his LL.B. from Seoul National University, an LL.M. from Columbia Law School, and a Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Cambridge. He served as a professor of international law at the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) at Seoul National University, where he also served as Dean.
Throughout his career, Paik has contributed to the field of international law through numerous publications and lectures focusing on international dispute settlement, the law of the sea, and human rights. He has also served as a legal advisor to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and participated in various international diplomatic conferences.
