This paper has two objects. One is to analyze the "Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition ('Trust Convention')", which is influential convention on the field of international trust. The other is to study on the Private In...
This paper has two objects. One is to analyze the "Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition ('Trust Convention')", which is influential convention on the field of international trust. The other is to study on the Private International Law Act of Korea about international trust and review whether it is desirable for Korea to accede to the Trust Convention.
The Hague Conference on Private International Law adopted the Trust Convention in October 1985, to unify the Private International Law on trust and clarify the effect of international trust. The Trust Convention is getting more important and influential and, in some states, used as legislation materials (especially in 'non-trust states'). The Trust Convention is not only a mere convention of Private International Law, but also an important academic material of the entire field of international trust.
The Trust Act was enacted in Korea in 1961, and entirely revised the Act in 2012 where creation of various types of trust became possible. A well-developed substantive law for trust is now active by that revision. considering current growth of international transactions, it is expected that international trust transactions will take place more frequently. In Korea however, there is no provision for trust in Private International Law Act, and the study on applicable law on trust is in toddling stage. This paper deals with the Trust Convention and grasps issues on international trust, thereafter analyzes interpretation about Korean Private International Law for trust, and examines whether it is desirable for Korea to accede to the Trust Convention.
Trust has developed from common law system, which is commonly represented by anglo-american law. States of continental law system had defensive attitude to trust and the Trust Convention, for it may derogate the integrity of legal system. So, the concept of 'trust' in Trust Convention is very extensive and open, not by defining the concept but by enumerating imperative and minimum characteristics, such as 'the segregation between trust asset and trustee's own patrimony'. The Trust Convention does not apply to preliminary issues relating to the validity of wills or of other acts by virtue of which assets are transferred to the trustee. A settler has almost unrestricted freedom to choose applicable law for trust. Convention distinguishes 'interpreting impliedly chosen applicable law' from 'objective ascertaining most closely connected law'. This is an novelty manner to appoint applicable law. Provisions on recognition for trust are the essence of Trust Convention. By the concept of 'recognition', trust can deploy its essential effects in non-trust states (mainly, in continent legal system). Section 15 of Convention is a provision to restrict the effect of recognition. There are many difficult issues between provisions supporting recognition of trust and provisions restricting recognition, such as section 15.
Under the current Private International Law Act, it seems appropriate to connect applicable law to divided aspects of trust. Legal relationships created by one act of 'creating trust' can be divided into many aspects by 'characterization', such as real-right aspects, personal obligation aspects and other category of aspects. However this is just a stopgap measure and insufficient way. It may trigger instability on legal relationship and cannot reflect sufficiently the specialty of trust, which has very wide extension. Therefore, it is needed to adopt unified private international law for trust and it can be accomplished by signing and ratifying the Trust Convention or importing new provisions on our Private International Law by referencing the Trust Convention. Which way is more appropriate will be concluded by examining whether to accept the unique provisions or not, such as section 15. It seems that signing and ratifying the Convention is a more stable way. In considering adopting legal principles of Trust Conventions, it is important to screen special aspects of the issues on section 15, preliminary issues(section 4), issues on publication(section 12), and so on. In addition, it is needed to study on the side effects of signing and ratifying the Trust Convention.