Park Ki-gab, a law professor at Korea University, has been elected as one of the 34 members of the International Law Commission of the United Nations in the ILC’s 2011 election.

Park will serve as an ILC member for five years beginning Jan. 1.

Candidates from 50 countries ran for 34 commission member places. Asia Pacific states fielded 13 candidates for eight seats allocated to the region. Park garnered votes from 135 out of 193 member countries.

Park is the second Korean member of the ILC, following the first Korean member Chee Choung-iI of Hanyang University, who had a five-year term from 2002 to 2006.

Park’s post at the ILC will help increase Korea’s status in the international law sector, the ministry said.

The International Law Commission was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 for the promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldcorp.com)