Title: ICJ vs. ICC: Who Judges the World?

Introduction

Hello! This is [Daily Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills to the next level! 👋

Today, we are diving into a sophisticated topic that will truly polish your advanced Korean skills: Human Rights and International Law.

Have you been following the global news lately? With various conflicts occurring around the world, terms like “The Hague,” “War Crimes,” and “International Court” are appearing constantly in Korean news media and social discussions. However, many people get confused between the ICJ (International Court of Justice) and the ICC (International Criminal Court).

By the end of this post, you will be able to explain the difference between these two organizations in Korean like a pro! This is essential vocabulary for those of you working in international relations, law, or simply for those who want to understand Korean news (뉴스) deeply. Let’s get started! 🚀

Key Expressions

Here are 4 advanced expressions to help you discuss international law.

1. 관할권 (Jurisdiction)

• Pronunciation: [Gwan-hal-gwon]
• English: Jurisdiction
• Detailed Explanation: This is a crucial legal term. It refers to the authority of a court to hear a case.
  • ICJ: Has jurisdiction over states (countries).
  • ICC: Has jurisdiction over individuals (people).
  • Usage: “The ICC has jurisdiction over this case.” (ICC는 이 사건에 대한 관할권이 있습니다.)
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Did you notice the end sounds stronger? It is pronounced [gwan-hal-kkwon].
  • This is a phenomenon called Tensification (Hard Sound Rule). After the final consonant ‘ㄹ (l)’ in some Sino-Korean words, the following ‘ㄱ (g)’ hardens into ‘ㄲ (kk)’. So, pronounce the end strongly!

2. 제소하다 (To file a complaint/lawsuit)

• Pronunciation: [Je-so-ha-da]
• English: To file a complaint / To bring a case to court
• Detailed Explanation: This verb is used when a country sues another country at the ICJ. It sounds much more formal and professional than just saying “scold” or “fight.”
  • Usage: “Country A filed a complaint against Country B at the ICJ.” (A국은 B국을 ICJ에 제소했습니다.)
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • This follows standard pronunciation rules. Pronounce each syllable clearly: [Je-so-ha-da].

3. 형사 처벌 (Criminal punishment)

• Pronunciation: [Hyeong-sa cheo-beol]
• English: Criminal punishment
• Detailed Explanation: This is the main goal of the ICC. While the ICJ solves disputes between countries, the ICC aims to inflict ‘criminal punishment’ on individuals who committed serious crimes (like war crimes).
  • Usage: “The purpose is the criminal punishment of war criminals.” (목적은 전범의 형사 처벌입니다.)

4. 구속력 (Binding force)

• Pronunciation: [Gu-song-nyeok]
• English: Binding force / Legal binding
• Detailed Explanation: This refers to whether the court’s decision must be followed by law. It is a key concept when discussing the effectiveness of international law.
  • Usage: “Does this judgment have binding force?” (이 판결은 구속력이 있나요?)
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Watch out! It is NOT [gu-sok-ryeok]. It changes to [gu-song-nyeok].
  • Nasalization: The ‘ㄱ (k)’ batchim meets ‘ㄹ (r)’. The ‘ㄱ’ becomes ‘ㅇ (ng)’ and the ‘ㄹ’ becomes ‘ㄴ (n)’. This makes the flow much smoother. Try saying it softly: Gu-song-nyeok.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these words are used in a conversation about current events.

(Context: Minji and Alex are discussing a recent news report about a war criminal.)

• Alex: 민지 씨, 뉴스 봤어요? 그 독재자가 결국 국제재판소에 간다면서요?
  (Minji, did you see the news? I heard that dictator is finally going to the international court?)
• Minji: 네, 봤어요. 그런데 ICJ가 아니라 ICC에서 다룰 거예요.
  (Yes, I saw it. But it will be handled by the ICC, not the ICJ.)
• Alex: 아, 두 곳이 다른가요? 저는 항상 헷갈려요.
  (Ah, are they different? I always get them confused.)
• Minji: 네, 달라요. ICJ는 국가 간의 분쟁을 해결하지만, ICC는 개인의 형사 처벌이 목적이거든요. 그래서 그 독재자는 ICC의 관할권에 속해요.
  (Yes, they are different. The ICJ resolves disputes between nations, but the ICC’s purpose is the criminal punishment of individuals. So, that dictator falls under the ICC’s jurisdiction.)
• Alex: 아하! 그럼 국경 문제 같은 건 나라가 나라를 제소하니까 ICJ로 가겠네요?
  (Aha! Then for things like border issues, since a country files a complaint against a country, it would go to the ICJ?)
• Minji: 맞아요! 알렉스 씨, 이제 국제법 전문가 다 됐는데요?
  (Exactly! Alex, you’ve basically become an international law expert now!)

Culture Tip & Trend Analysis: “Fact-Check” in Korean News

Recently in Korea, news programs often feature segments called “팩트체크” (Fact Check) or “심층 보도” (In-depth Reporting).

With the rise of global conflicts (like the situation in Ukraine or the Middle East), Korean netizens are very interested in justice (정의).
* Trend: When a famous figure or a nation violates international rules, you will see comments on Korean SNS saying: “ICJ에 제소해야 한다!” (We must file a complaint to the ICJ!) or “ICC가 체포 영장을 발부했다.” (The ICC issued an arrest warrant.)

Knowing the difference between State Responsibility (ICJ) and Individual Responsibility (ICC) shows that you have a high level of cultural and intellectual literacy in Korea. Using words like 구속력 (binding force) when discussing these news topics with your Korean colleagues will definitely impress them!

Conclusion & Practice

Today, we compared the ICJ and ICC and learned advanced legal vocabulary.

Summary:
* ICJ: Judges Countries (States) → 제소하다 (To file a suit)
* ICC: Judges Individuals (People) → 형사 처벌 (Criminal punishment) / 관할권 (Jurisdiction)

📝 Mini Quiz

Fill in the blank with the correct word we learned today!

“The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ___________ over individuals who commit war crimes.”
“국제형사재판소(ICC)는 전쟁 범죄를 저지른 개인에 대한 ( )을/를 가집니다.”

(Answer: 관할권)

Did you get it right? Don’t forget to practice the pronunciation of 구속력 [gu-song-nyeok] today!

Leave a comment below using one of the new expressions! See you next time! 👋