이 글에서는 계약의 성립과 관련하여 합의에 관한 로마법에서부터의 논의와 현재 각국에서 논의되고 있는 내용, 예컨대 독일, 프랑스, 중국, 미국, 그리고 UN통일매매법과 유럽계약법원칙에서 규정되어 있는 계약의 성립과 관련한 내용을 살펴보고자 하였다. 그 속에서 합의의 대상으로 본질적 구성부분에 대한 확정성 내지는 확정 가능성에 관한 논의를 살펴보고, 청약과 승낙에 의한 성립, 의사실현에 의한 계약의 성립을 통해 계약의 성립에서 합의의 의미와 내용을 살펴보려 하였다. 또한 이러한 내용을 계약구속력의 근거와 결부해서 살펴보려 하였다. 계약의 성립에 있어 그 중핵을 합의에서 찾는 데는 큰 이론이 없는 반면, 계약의 구제수단 또는 구속력의 근거에 대해서는 많은 논란이 있는 것으로 파악된다. 이러한 논의를 고려하여 계약의 성립은 거래관행 등을 통해 쌓여온 기초적 신뢰관계에 기반을 두고, 당사자 사이에 유의미성이 인정된 내용 내지 거래관행의 형성을 위해 계약내용으로 새로이 포섭하고자 한 의사의 일치라고 해석해 볼 수 있다. 경우에 따라 계약의 성립에 따른 책임의 범위는 계약체결상의 과실이 존재하는 경우 등에 있어 확장될 수 있다. 이러한 내용들의 검토 속에서 우리나라 민법전에 합의에 관한 명문의 규정을 두는 것이 바람직하지는 않은지, 계약의 성립시기를 통일적으로 도달주의에 따르도록 하는 것은 어떤지, 전자거래나 약관에 의한 경우를 포괄하는 계약의 성립에 관한 통칙규정을 둘 필요는 없는지 검토하고자 하였다.

In this article, I review the history of discussion on agreement in contract where it's formed since the Roman law. Recently, there are many countries relevant of this topic, such as Germany, France, China, and the U.S. And the provisions related with contract formation set forth in the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), and the Principles of European Contract Law (PECL). Herein, it is examined the certainty of material element in a contract as the object of agreement, and also the content in contract formation by realization of intent as well as through offer and acceptance. These matters are reviewed in combination with the basis of binding force for a contract. While it is generally agreed that agreement is the core of contract formation, there are much differing opinions about the remedies for a contract or the basis of binding force. As stated the above, the basis of binding force is grounded on fundamental fiduciary relationship through customary practice. Therefore contract formation may be interpreted as the legal act to focus on the consensus of intent between the parties to embrace meaningful matters as the substance of contract is formed by customary practice. And the scope of liabilities following such contract formation may be expanded in case of culpa in contrahendo i.e. fault in conclusion of a contract. It requires further review whether it is advisable to have an express provision on agreement in connection with contract formation, and whether it would be necessary to include in the Korean Civil Code, as a general rule, provisions embracing the formation of various contracts such as electronic transaction or standardized clauses.

In this article, I review the history of discussion on agreement in contract where it's formed since the Roman law. Recently, there are many countries relevant of this topic, such as Germany, France, China, and the U.S. And the provisions related with contract formation set forth in the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), and the Principles of European Contract Law (PECL). Herein, it is examined the certainty of material element in a contract as the object of agreement, and also the content in contract formation by realization of intent as well as through offer and acceptance. These matters are reviewed in combination with the basis of binding force for a contract. While it is generally agreed that agreement is the core of contract formation, there are much differing opinions about the remedies for a contract or the basis of binding force. As stated the above, the basis of binding force is grounded on fundamental fiduciary relationship through customary practice. Therefore contract formation may be interpreted as the legal act to focus on the consensus of intent between the parties to embrace meaningful matters as the substance of contract is formed by customary practice. And the scope of liabilities following such contract formation may be expanded in case of culpa in contrahendo i.e. fault in conclusion of a contract. It requires further review whether it is advisable to have an express provision on agreement in connection with contract formation, and whether it would be necessary to include in the Korean Civil Code, as a general rule, provisions embracing the formation of various contracts such as electronic transaction or standardized clauses.

contract formation, agreement, material element, basis of binding force, formation by realization of intent, establishment of provision on agreement