• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2019

The areas be affected maritime police authority of the Republic of Korea, are largely classified as inland waters, territorial waters, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf(hereinafter referred to as "domestic sea area") and high seas. Of these, the maritime police authority in domestic sea area follows a municipal law that accommodates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS). In addition, this Convention shall apply on the high seas. Meanwhile, on the high seas, foreign vessels other than domestic vessels are allowed to be subject to limited jurisdiction only for the anti-mankind criminal acts, such as piracy etc. this is in accordance with the principle of "Freedom of the high seas" and "maritime flag state," under this Convention. However, the illegal acts of foreign vessels that threaten the security of coastal states and the safety of ships on the high seas can cause many types of crimes other than anti-mankind criminal acts, and the jurisdiction of the coastal states exercised may lead to conflicts between countries. Therefore, this article would like to suggest a plan for institutional improvement to maintain international maritime order on the high seas and secure maritime police authority in coastal states.