Tae-Ung Baik

Dr. Tae-Ung Baik joined the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii in 2011 after teaching at the Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia (UBC) for seven years since 2003 as assistant professor and Director of the Korean Legal Studies program. He teaches international human rights, international criminal law, comparative law, and Korean law. Since 2015, he is serving as a member of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) being appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as an independent expert representing the Asia-Pacific States. He had conducted research on human rights issues as a visiting scholar at the East Asian Legal Studies program at Harvard Law School from 2002-2003, and, during his sabbatical in 2017–18, he researched as a visiting scholar at the Seoul National University Law Research Institute.

Dr. Baik was born in South Korea and graduated from Seoul National University College of Law. He earned his master (LL.M.) and doctoral (JSD) degrees on international human rights law from Notre Dame Law School in the U.S. He was admitted to the Bar as an attorney-at-law in the State of New York, and worked for Human Rights Watch in New York as a research intern and later as a research consultant with a focus on human rights problems in both North and South Koreas. In 2003, he served the South Korean Delegation to the 56th United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights as a legal adviser.

Professor Baik was engaged in the democracy movement against the military dictatorship in the 1980-90s in South Korea. He is still widely involved in human rights advocacy projects. His book, “Emerging Regional Human Rights Systems in Asia,” was published by Cambridge University Press in 2012. The translated and updated version of this book was published in Korea by Changbi Publishers Inc. entitled “Seeking the Human Rights Community in Asia” in 2017.

• SEEKING THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMUNITY IN ASIA (Asia Ingwon Gongdongchereul Chajaseo: Jiyok Ingwon Chejeeui Baljeongua Jeonmang) (Changbi Publishers Inc. 2017) [revised edition of EMERGING REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS IN ASIA in Korean language]
  • Received 2017 Book of Peace Award by the IPUS, Seoul National University
  • Selected as 2018 Excellent Academic Book by the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Korea
• ESTABLISHING NORTHEAST ASIAN NETWORK TO ENHANCE THE HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN CRIMINAL PROCESS (Hyeongsajeolchasang Inkwonbojang Jeungjineul Uihan Dongbukajiyeok Hyeopryeokchegye Guchukbangan) (Korean Institute of Criminology, 2015) [with Han-Kyun Kim and Jee-Young Yun].
• EMERGING REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS IN ASIA (Cambridge University Press, 2012).
• THE DREAM OF KOREAN SOCIALIST MOVEMENT (NAMHAN SAHOIJUEUIJAEUI KKUM), (Friend-of-Labor Publishing Co., 1992).

Journal Articles

• Legal Framework for Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation (Nambuk Ganeui Gyoryu Hyeopryeokeui Beobjeok Gibane Gwanhayeo), 18 INTERNATIONAL KOREAN STUDIES (GUKJEKOREAHAK) 49 (2020).
• Non-judicial Punishments of Political Offenses in North Korea - With a Focus on Kwanriso, 64 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE LAW 891 (2016). HeinOnline | ScholarSpace
• Book Review: The Massacres at Mt. Halla: Sixty Years of Truth Seeking in South Korea, 75 JOURNAL OF ASIAN STUDIES 853 (2016). ScholarSpace
• Case Commentary: Undocumented Workers May Establish Trade Unions in South Korea, 2 INTERNATIONAL LABOR RIGHTS CASE LAW 162 (2016). HeinOnline | ScholarSpace
• False Statements of Fact under the Public Official Election Act and the Principles of Reckless Disregard of Material Facts (Gongjikseongeobeopsang Heouisasil Gongpyowa Mipiljeok Goeuieui Beopri), 49 KOREAN JOURNAL OF LAW AND SOCIETY (BEOPGUA SAHOI) 271 (2015).
• Stabilizing Democracy and Human Rights Systems in South Korea, 35 UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI LAW REVIEW 877 (2013). HeinOnline | ScholarSpace
• Fairness in Transitional Justice Initiatives: The Case of South Korea, 19 BUFFALO HUMAN RIGHTS LAW REVIEW 169 (2013). HeinOnline | ScholarSpace
• Social Healing Through Justice: Jeju 4.3 Case, 2 WORLD ENVIRONMENT AND ISLAND STUDIES 59 (2012). ScholarSpace
• Easing Tension in East Asia and Transforming the Region into a Peaceful and Cooperative Community (Ginjangsogeui Dong Asiareul Pyeonghwahyeopryukeui Gongdongchero), 49 LE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUE 33 Oct. 2012 (2012).
• The Historical Development of Early Korean Immigration to Hawaii and its Legal Structure, 11 JOURNAL OF KOREAN LAW 77 (2011) [with Duk Hee Lee Murabayashi]. HeinOnline | ScholarSpace
• Legal System on Earthquake and Tsunami in Canada (Canada eui jijin, haeil mit huasan guancheuk guanryun beopje), 60 KOREA LAW REVIEW (KOREA BEOPHAK) 115 (2011) [with Jewan Kim].
• Cooperative Approach for Implementation of International Norms (Gukje gyubeom jibhaengehseo hyupryukjeok guangyeeui jungyoseong), 55 KOREAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW (GUKJEBEOPHAKHOE NONCHONG), vol 4. 13 (2010).
• A Discussion for the Amendment of the Korean Civil Code: Statutory Limitation Provisions and Related Issues (Kwonri haengsa giganeh guanhan jaengjeomgua minbeop gaejeong bangan), 50
• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CIVIL LAW (MINSABEOPHAK) 1 (2010) [with Jewan Kim and Kyung-Il Paek]. The Human Rights Lawsuits in the United States-Focusing on the Comfort Women Case (Migukehseoui inkwon sosong- ilbongun wianbu sageoneul jungsimeuro), 43 KOREA LAW REVIEW (KOREA BEOPHAK) 327 (2004).
• A War Crime against an Ally’s Civilians: The No Gun Ri Massacre, 15 NOTRE DAME JOURNAL OF LAW, ETHICS & PUBLIC POLICY 455 (2001). HeinOnline | ScholarSpace

Book Chapters

• Regional Human Rights Arrangements, in THE OXFORD HANDBOOK OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN ASIA (OXFORD UNIV. PRESS, forthcoming 2020).
• Overview of the Report on Enforced Disappearances in the Context of Migration, in MIGRATIONS, STATE OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS INA GLOBALIZED CONTEXT 99 (Global Studies Institute, 2019)
• North Korean Human Rights and its Legal Systems (Bukhaninqwongua Beobjedo), in NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES BRIEF (Bukhaninkwon Issue Brief) (2016).
• Human Rights Cooperation in East Asia, in GLOBAL SOCIETY AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS (グロバル 社会と人権問題) 16 (Akasi Book, 2014; revised 2nd ed., 2016).
• Legal Receptions and Resistance: Death Penalty and International Human Rights Norms in Korea, in THE GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS OF KOREAN LAW 57 (Korea Legislation Research Institute, 2014).
• Human Rights Cooperation in East Asia (DongAsia ehseoeui inkwonhyeopryeok), in COOPERATION AND CHALLENGES OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ERA (Korean Global Foundation ed., Urisidae, 2013).
• Public Interest Litigation in Korea, in PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IN ASIA (Po Jen Yap & Holning Lau eds., London, Routledge, 2010).
• A STUDY ON REORGANIZATION OF FOOD-RELATED LAW STRUCTURE (Sikpumguanryunbop chegye gaepyuneul uihan gicho yeongu) (KREI, 2008) [with Gyeim Lee et al.]
• Justice Incomplete: The Remedy for the Victims of Jeju April Third Incident, in RETHINKING HISTORICAL INJUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION IN NORTHEAST ASIA: THE KOREAN EXPERIENCE IN REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE (Shin et al. eds., London: Routledge, 2007).
• Asia: The Reality of Human Rights, in THE ESSENTIALS OF HUMAN RIGHTS (Rhona K. M. Smith and Christien van den Anker, eds., Hodder Arnold, 2006).
• The Nature of South Korean Society and the Tasks of Labor Movement, in THE DEBATES ON NEW COLONIAL STATE MONOPOLY CAPITALISM (Namhan sahoieui seonkyukgwa nodongja gyegeupeui immu, in SINSIKMINJI GUKKA DOKJEOM JABONJUEUI NONJAENG) (Lee Jinkyung ed., Pyori Pub. Co.,1988).

Research Projects and Other Publications

• Earthquake, Tsunami and Volcanic Hazard Reduction Systems in the United States Migukeui Jijin Jijinhaeil Hwasaneh Daehan Daeeung Chegyeeh Guanhan Yeongu (2013).
• Op-ed columns, Column Sesangilki (reading the world), Column Sesangilki (reading the world), THE HANKYOREH (May 20, 2013- April 21, 2014). Six pieces of columns have been published as of Sep 2013. The Hankyoreh is one of the major national newspapers in South Korea. Currently, I am writing an op-ed column once every three weeks. The subjects of my columns include: the sovereignty of Korea, international law, and Korea’s relations with the US and China, etc. Before this work, some of my op-ed columns had appeared in the newspaper: During 2011-2012, three op-ed columns were published, and, during Aug. 12, 1999- Dec.27, 1999, 18 op-ed columns of mine were published.
• The Status of Korean Law in the World Community [Segyeosogeui Hangukpeopeui Uisang], Byeobyeon 28 (2013).  Beobyeon is the monthly magazine published by Korean Legislation and
  Research Institute (KLRI).
• A Study on Lawyer Referral Services (Byunhosa Junggaejedo Yeongu) (Korea University Law Institute, 2012) with Jewan Kim and Tae-ih Kim [submitted to ROK Ministry of Justice].
• Limitation Period: A Research on the Statute of Limitations and the Period of Exclusion (Kwonri haengsa gigan: somyulsihyowa jecheokgiganeoi guanhan yeongu) (2009) with Jewan Kim and Kyung-Il Paek [submitted to ROK Ministry of Justice].
• The Invisible Exodus: North Koreans in the People's Republic of China, Human Rights Watch, November 2002 Vol. 14, No. 8 (C) (2002) with Dinah Pokempner and Mike Jendrzejczyk.

• Forty years between hope and despair: The right to truth and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, UN Side event hosted by Croatia and Switzerland (2/7/20)
• Asian Civil Society and Human Rights- With focus on the Regional Human Rights Systems in Asia, Korea Peace Forum (11/10/19)
• Crimes against Humanity and the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations between Korea and Japan, Beyond San Francisco Treaty System Conference (11/9/19)
• Legal Framework for Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation, The 14th ISKS Conference (8/20/19)
• Teaching Korean Law in the United States, SNU School of Law (7/29/19)
• International Human Rights Law and Jeju 4.3 – Truth, Justice, Responsibility, and Social Healing, The UN Symposium on Human Rights and Jeju April 3rd, Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation (6/20/19)
• Korean Criminal Justice in a Globalizing World, Korean Institute of Criminology (5/31/19)
• International Human Rights Law and Jeju 4.3, The 8th Jeju 4.3 Peace forum, Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation (12/18/18)
• Human Rights Norms, Institutions, and Enforcement in Reality -- With a Focus on Enforced Disappearances, The the World Issues Forum, Western Washington University (11/14/18)
• Present and the Future of the Relations between South and North Koreas, and the United States, National Unification Advisory Council-Hawaii (10/26/18)
• Contact at All Levels: The Legal Framework for Inter-Korean Exchanges, K-Law Forum, Columbia Law School (8/28/18)
• International Human Rights Law and Enforced Disappearances: Focus on Asia, Korea and the UN Human Rights Council Working Group, Annual Dr. N.H. Paul Chung Memorial Lecture, Pacific Asian Management Institute, UH Shidler College of Business (8/2/18)
• Penal Process, the Rule of Law, and Human Rights Systems in DPRK, CU Conference, UHM (4/5/18)