ICSID and KCAB Sign Cooperation Agreement to Strengthen International Dispute Resolution

August 19, 2026. The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) entered into a cooperation agreement today to advance the use of arbitration, conciliation, mediation, and other alternative mechanisms for the resolution of international disputes.

Martina Polasek, Secretary-General of ICSID, and Prof. Seung Wha Chang, Chairman of KCAB International, signed the agreement in Seoul, Korea. The agreement sets out a structure for institutional cooperation that includes the dissemination of knowledge on dispute resolution procedures, the organization of joint conferences, seminars, and training programs, the development of capacity building initiatives for investor-State dispute management, and the reciprocal exchange of information and publications in relevant fields.

Under the agreement, parties to ICSID proceedings may choose to hold hearings at KCAB's facilities in Seoul, consistent with Article 63 of the ICSID Convention. The arrangement also extends to proceedings held under ICSID's Additional Facility and Mediation Rules.

"KCAB and ICSID share a commitment to delivering high-quality, cost-effective, and time-efficient arbitration, mediation, and other alternative methods for resolving international disputes. This collaboration between KCAB and ICSID aims to advance international dispute resolution, grounded in a shared conviction that accessible and reliable services build the confidence and stability that cross-border investment and trade thrive on," said Ms. Polasek.

"The cooperation agreement with ICSID reflects KCAB's longstanding commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration and promoting the effective use of international dispute resolution. As a leading arbitral institution in Asia and across civil law jurisdictions, KCAB looks forward to working closely with ICSID to foster greater dialogue and mutual understanding among public- and private-sector stakeholders engaged in cross-border investment and to facilitate the effective resolution of complex international disputes," said Prof. Chang.