The National Research Foundation of Korea announced on the 31st that it has appointed Hong Seok-won, the principal researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Water Resource Circulation Research Group, as the energy and environment Director General. The term is two years.
Director General Hong graduated from the University of Southern California in 1996 with a degree in civil and environmental engineering and received a master's degree in the same field from the same university. He later obtained his doctorate in Earth Environmental System Engineering from Seoul National University. He has been working at KIST since earning his master's degree.
Director General Hong is responsible for evaluating the management of support projects under the energy and environment group, project planning, proposing mid- to long-term development plans, establishing and advising on policy, establishing budget allocation plans, monitoring progress and promoting the utilization of results, and handling external cooperation matters.