The planet suffered a number of abnormal climate phenomena last winter, and Japan remains shaken by the recent earthquakes and tsunami. Consequently, natural phenomena involving the sea are emerging as a global concern. Against this backdrop, distinguished marine science scholars who lead the way in their own countries in the Western Pacific region will gather to discuss the issues.

The Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs (Minister CHUNG Jong-hwan) and the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI; President KANG Jung-geuk) announced that the IOC/WESPAC would hold its 8 ^th International Scientific Symposium at the Paradise Hotel Busan from March 28 to 31.

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) is a UNESCO organization, and the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (IOC/WESTPAC) was established in 1989 to facilitate joint research in marine science in the Western Pacific region. It is currently chaired by Dr. ZHANG Zhanghai and participated by ocean science scholars of twenty Western Pacific countries including South Korea, Japan, China, Australia, and Russia. It holds an international science symposium once about every three years.

Starting with the opening ceremony in the morning of March 28, the symposium will take place for four days, attended by many experts in marine science from advanced ocean research institutes not only of IOC/WESTPAC member countries but also other advanced countries such as the US, the UK, and Germany. They will present over 500 papers on 14 topics including adaptation to coastal disasters related to climate change, marine biodiversity and its maintenance, ocean and coastal observation, and marine biochemistry, and they will have in-depth discussions about major issues and visions of marine science.

KORDI President KANG Jung-keuk; Mr. U Ye-jong, head of the Marine Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs; Mr. KIM Keun-soo, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea; Prof. KIM Kyung-ryul of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences of Seoul National University; and other important figures in government, academia, and research in Korea, as well as IOC Executive Secretary Wendy Watson-Wright; Prof. Stephen de Mora, Chief Executive of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) of the UK; Dr. Fangli Qiao, Deputy Director of the First Institute of Oceanography of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of China; Dr. David M. Legler, Chief of the Climate Observation Division at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the US; and other distinguished figures from renowned oceanic institutes around the world, will deliver special lectures and keynote speeches, further increasing interest.

One of the significant aspects of this international marine symposium is that it is held in Busan, a city that envisions becoming the marine capital of Northeast Asia in 21 ^st century. Busan has strived to attract many marine institutes in Korea and create a marine cluster as a home to governmental, academic, research, and industrial entities in the marine area. In this context, this coming international marine symposium is expected to be a golden opportunity for Busan to cement its position as a major city in marine science and technology in the minds of many marine experts in the member countries of the regional sea.

KORDI, which is organizing the symposium, expects that the symposium will help solidify Korea’s leadership not only in WESTPAC, but also in the IOC. Furthermore, support activities for the success of Expo 2012 will take place during the symposium. Among these, a video clip entitled “Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea” will be presented.

“We host this international science symposium following the POGO* Annual Meeting in January. This means that South Korea’s status in the world’s oceanography area has risen,” says KORDI President KANG Jung-keuk, adding, “We expect that the symposium will serve as an opportunity to further improve oceanography not only in the Western Pacific region but also around the world.”

*Notes:

  - UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): A specialized agency of the United Nations intended to facilitate cooperation through international exchange in the areas of education, science, and culture.

 - IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission): As the only agency exclusively addressing marine science under the United Nations, the IOC support its 138 member countries’ marine environment management systems and marine policy-making processes.

- IOC/WESTPAC (IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific): An international organization for joint research in marine science of the Western Pacific (An overview is attached.)

- POGO (Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans): A not-for-profit NGO where decision makers of marine science research institutes around the world gather together to find ways to cooperate on global oceanic climate issues. Its 12 ^th annual meeting took place in Seoul in January 24 this year.

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