Global trade relies heavily on shipping; yet maritime law frameworks often fail to protect seafarers’ human rights adequately. Seafarers thus continue to experience coerced labor, abandonment, harassment, or inadequate treatment. This research aims to establish a cohesive legal framework safeguarding seafarers’ human rights through a comparative analysis of international and Korean maritime law. It provides an overview of the current status of seafarers’ human rights protection; describes the theoretical framework of human rights principles and maritime labor; reviews and analyzes legal precedents regarding seafarers’ human rights; and offer recommendations for international and domestic (Korean) policies and industry and stakeholder engagement to strengthen the protection of seafarers’ human rights. This manuscript addresses soft law initiatives, including the Neptune Declaration, Geneva Declaration, and the training and accountability proposals from the IMO-ILO. The authors advocate for more stringent national legislation, comprehensive worldwide SASH training, and enhanced oversight. Ultimately, the rights of seafarers necessitate enforceable legal reform, global collaboration, and interagency support.

I. Introduction
II. Current Status of Seafarers’ Human Rights
    A. General Overview of Human Rights Issues in theMaritime Sector
    B. Seafarers’ Human Rights Violations: Case Analyses
III. Human Rights Principles and Maritime Labor
    A. Universal Protection of Human Rights
    B. Legal Basis for Seafarers’ Human Rights
    C. Republic of Korea as the Global Seafarer’s Country
IV. Challenges to Seafarers’ Human RightsProtection System
    A. Oncale vs. Sundowner Offshore Services Case (1998)
    B. MV Aman Case (2017)
    C. Review
V. Suggestions for the Protection of Seafarers’Human Rights
    A. International Law and Policy Measures
    B. Korean Law and Policy
VI. Conclusion

• Sang-il Lee(Professor at the Division of Marine System Engineering of the Korea Maritime & Ocean University)
• Song-yi Yi(Chief instructor at Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology) Corresponding author