Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) President Kim Woong-seo has announced the Third Chollian Satellite 2 (2A/2B) Convergence Utilization Conference will take place on November 11-12  at the Yuseong Hotel in Daejeon. KIOST will co-host the event along with two other organizations: the Korea National Meteorological Satellite Center, an affiliate of the Meteorological Administration (Kim Yun-jae, Director); and the Environmental Satellite Center, an affiliate of the National Institute of Environmental Research (Lee Dong-won, Director).

The Chollian 2A and the Chollian 2B satellites carry meteorological and marine/environmental payloads, respectively. In October 2020, three organizations signed a collaboration agreement on the sharing of observation data and joint development of convergence products, as well as on operation and quality control. Subsequently, this conference is held to share the R&D progress of convergence technology between institutions and to seek cooperation to improve the accuracy in verification (and calibration) of satellite data technology and the detection of sea fog and aerosol. There will be about 50 satellite experts and officials from universities and three institutions in attendance.

The conference will commence with lectures by invitees Professor Choi Yong-Sang of Ewha Womans University and Professor Hong Seong-Wook of Sejong University. These will be followed by sequential sessions, which include:
？ Presentation of satellite operations by each organization
？ Convergence Technology Development Using the Chollian Satellite 2 and Presentation of calibration and verification experts
？ Meeting of collaboration groups for utilization of convergence

KIOST will review the first year’s operation of the marine payload (GOCI-II) on the Chollian Satellite and will outline the themes of the initial atmospheric calibration results from the GOCI-II; future research plans using GOCI-II; potential improvement of the accuracy of marine research using the Chollian Satellite 2; and the current status of sea fog detection technology.

The GOCI-II, launched in February 2020, is a series satellite that followed up on the Chollian Satellite 1 marine payload mission, which ended in March 2021. GOCI-II will observe the marine environment of Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula, 10 times daily for the next 10 years. The KIOST Maritime Satellite Center is the operating organization for the GOCI-II; the Center is tasked with receiving, processing, and providing quality control on marine satellite data, as well as for developing technologies for use of that data.

KIOST President Kim Woong-seo remarked, “KIOST aims to develop the world's best satellite analysis technology so that the Chollian marine satellites would not be satisfied with the title of the world's first Geostationary Orbit (GEO) marine satellite possible to observe the atmospheric environment from the geostationary orbit.  He added, “Based on this, we will do our best to provide valuable information acquired through Chollian Satellite 2research activities.”