Industrial and economic growth over recent decades has severely contaminated the Yellow Sea, with marine pollution from various sources reaching alarming levels. One major contributor is vessel-source pollution from the international shipping industry. Rapid economic expansion in China and South Korea has driven maritime trade growth, increasing risks of accidental and operational discharges from ships. The Yellow Sea’s semi-enclosed nature, shallow depth, and width of under 400 nm present geographical vulnerabilities. Pollution incidents in one state’s waters can easily affect another due to the shared interests of China, South Korea, and North Korea. Ongoing exclusive economic zone (EEZ) boundary disputes, particularly between China and South Korea, hinder cooperation in regulating overlapping maritime zones. This study argues for the designation of a Yellow Sea Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) to overcome jurisdictional challenges, protect its unique environment, and establish a practical regional regulatory framework for preventing vessel-source pollution.