1. Hahn Choong-hee, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN, was elected to serve a one-year term as Chairman of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) at its plenary session held at the UN Headquarters in New York on July 7. The Deputy Permanent Representative won unanimous support from the 60 member states of the UNCITRAL.

° The UNCITRAL was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1966 to seek a harmonization of commercial laws of different countries in order to promote international trade and investment and resolve relevant disputes and obstacles.

2. The election of Deputy Permanent Representative Hahn as UNCITRAL Chairman is seen to reflect the enhanced international standing of the ROK such as in the field of international commercial law.

3. Deputy Permanent Representative Hahn, as UNCITRAL Chairman, will preside over the 47th session of the UNCITRAL to take place at the UN Headquaters in New York from July 7 through 18; move forward with reports on the progress made by the UNCITRAL's Working Groups and adopt their outcomes; lead discussions on pending issues concerning international commercial law, including its future challenges; and play a leading role in various public activities of the UNCITRAL.

4. The ROK, since its accession to the UNCITRAL in 2004, has proactively participated in the organization's efforts to set international commercial standards and norms. Selected to host the UNCITRAL's Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific in Song-do, Incheon, in January 2012, the country has since functioned as a hub disseminating international commercial norms by holding relevant international seminars and conferences as well as model UN conferences. 


               Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation