The Rights of Nature in South Korea: The Eco Legal Personhood Bill

Join us for an exciting new webinar series from the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) Asia Pacific Hub.

In our February webinar we will be joined by Ms Hyejin Jung, Director of Earth Law Center and Mr Taehyun Park, President of the Korean Earth Jurisprudence Society - both affiliated with People for Earth - who will share insights into their work advocating for the eco-legal personhood initiative on Jeju Island.

In December 2024, a bill proposing the introduction of eco-legal personhood in Jeju Island, South Korea, was introduced to the National Assembly. The bill aims to amend the “Special Act on the Establishment of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Development of the Jeju Free International City” to recognize ecosystems or non-human beings - such as dolphins, Gotjawal (Jeju's volcanic forest), and sea turtles - as “eco-legal entities, granting them certain rights and legal protections to ensure long-term ecological sustainability.” Other key provisions of the bill include formation of a committee to protect and advocate for these rights and establishment of funding mechanisms to support these efforts.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

HYEJIN JUNG

Ms Hyejin Jung is a Lawyer and Director of Earth Law Center Korea (People for Earth), and also lectures in Earth jurisprudence.

TAEHYUN PARK

Mr Taehyun Park is President of the Korean Earth Jurisprudence Society (People for Earth) and Professor of Law at Kangwon National University School of Law, Korea.

WEBINAR HOST - DR MICHELLE MALONEY

Ms Michelle Maloney (PhD) is an Australian-based Earth lawyer and advocate for ecocentric and bioregional governance. She is recognised internationally and in Australia for her work advocating for Earth centred law and governance, including First Laws and the Rights of Nature. Michelle is Co-Founder and Director of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), an organisation created to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth centred law and governance (www.earthlaws.org.au) Michelle is part of the Coordinating Team for the GARN Asia Pacific Hub. For more information about Michelle's work, publications and affiliations, please visit: www.michellemaloney.au 

ABOUT THE GARN ASIA PACIFIC HUB

The Asia-Pacific Hub of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) is a regional network working to promote and implement the Rights of Nature (RoN) across the Asia-Pacific. It connects advocates, indigenous communities, and experts to shift legal frameworks from treating nature as property to recognizing ecosystems as rights-bearing entities,

Read more about the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN)

For more about the Asia-Pacific Hub