Pukyong National University's 'Cinemora' team wins international maritime law moot court competition

Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

Pukyong National University's "Cinemora" team has won the 2026 International Maritime Law Moot Court Competition, prevailing in arguments over coastal state jurisdiction and transit passage rights in international straits, drawing on international treaties and case law.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held the competition for undergraduate and graduate students at Korea University on Friday.

The ministry has organized the annual event since 2013 to identify talent in international maritime law. This year, 30 teams from major universities across the country applied, and the top eight advanced to the finals after a written brief review.

Participants debated coastal state jurisdiction over international straits and the transit passage rights of strait-user states. Arguments centered on how far the transit passage regime under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea applies, and to what extent coastal states bordering a strait may exercise jurisdiction over vessels that pose a risk of marine pollution.

Transit passage is the regime under which ships and aircraft exercise freedom of navigation and overflight for continuous and expeditious transit through straits used for international navigation. Participants also discussed how bridge construction spanning a strait might affect such passage rights.

Results of the 2025 International Maritime Law Moot Court Competition [Provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]

Judges awarded first place to the Cinemora team, citing its thorough review of international treaties and precedents and its persuasive linking of the facts to the legal issues at stake. The team received a prize of 5 million won ($3,590).

The runner-up was "Beopmu Beopbin Haejeok," a joint team from Catholic University of Korea and Hanyang University, while Yonsei University School of Law's "Giseonjepap" team took the encouragement award. Kim So-eon of Catholic University of Korea received the best advocate award.

Seo Jeong-ho, director general for ocean policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said international maritime law serves as a vital set of norms for maintaining order in the international community when the interests of states come into conflict. "We hope the participants will grow into future maritime law experts, building on the experience they gained at this moot court competition," he said.

adastra@heraldcorp.com