On 5 October 2026, the Institute for Advanced Study in Nantes will host the conference "Current Challenges and Crises Affecting Freedom of Navigation in International Law: French–Korean Perspectives." The event is organised in partnership with Nantes Université (Pôle Sociétés and the Centre for Maritime and Ocean Law – CDMO), the French Maritime Academy (ENSM) and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST). This international conference, dedicated to the contemporary challenges facing the law of the sea and freedom of navigation, will bring together French and Korean researchers, academics and experts to discuss the geopolitical, legal and environmental issues that are reshaping today's maritime spaces.
9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Institut d'études avancées de Nantes, 5 allées Jacques Berque, Nantes
Registration form coming soon (early September).
Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, energy security concerns and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, freedom of navigation remains a cornerstone of international law. This conference will bring together French and Korean scholars and practitioners to examine the legal and political challenges currently facing the law of the sea while fostering dialogue across national and disciplinary perspectives.
The conference will open with welcoming remarks by Sophie Halart, Director of IEA Nantes, alongside representatives of the partner institutions. The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Emeritus Jean-Paul Pancracio (University of Poitiers), a leading specialist in international maritime law.
The programme is structured around three thematic sessions:
- Freedom of Navigation and Armed Conflict, featuring presentations by Dr. Wonhee Kim (KIOST) and Gabriel Guibert-Péroni (ENSM);
- Shadow Fleets and Freedom of Navigation, exploring the legal challenges posed by vessels operating outside conventional regulatory frameworks, with Professor Hyunjung Kim (Yonsei University) and Dr. Awa Sam (ENSM);
- Submarine Cable Installation and Freedom of Navigation, focusing on the legal protection of critical underwater infrastructure, with Professor Jihyun Choi (Jeju National University) and Professor Claire Portier (Université Savoie Mont Blanc).
Moderated by Professor Frantz Mynard, the conference will conclude with a public discussion followed by closing remarks from Professor Emeritus Jean-Pierre Beurrier (Nantes Université).
