As a semi-enclosed sea, the Yellow Sea is shared by costal states such as China, South Korea and North Korea which have common interests in this maritime area. This situation requires special attention and mutual efforts for the protection and preservation of the coastal waters and marine ecosystem. The Yellow Sea contains many shipping routes, and it is potentially exposed to the risks of vessel-source pollution. This research has examined how the Yellow Sea states have implemented the International Maritime Organisation conventions relating to vessel-source pollution at the domestic level through a comparative legal study. The objective of this research is to understand current national laws of the Yellow Sea states dealing with the prevention of vessel-source pollution and to emphasize the necessity of regional efforts and cooperation to implement global regulatory instruments in order to protect and preserve the marine environment from the threats of international shipping activities.

I. Introduction
II. Concurrent Jurisdiction over the Prevention ofVessel-Source Pollution in the Yellow Sea
    A. The Yellow Sea in Danger from the Risks of International ShippingActivities
    B. The Effect of Maritime Boundary Disputes on the Prevention ofVessel-Source Pollution in the Yellow Sea
    C. Ratifications of the IMO Conventions by the Yellow Sea States
III. Domestic Laws of the Yellow Sea States for thePrevention of Vessel-source Pollution: A Comparison
    A. China
    B. South Korea
    C. North Korea
IV. Conclusion

• Junghwan Choi(Lecturer at Law School of Dalian Maritime University, China. LL.M.)