The Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST) announced on the 29th that Kwon Seok-jae, honorary researcher at the Marine Policy Research Center, was elected chair of the technical committee of the 17th East Asia Marine Environmental Management Cooperation Organization (PEMSEA) General Assembly held in Manila, Philippines, on the 23rd.
Launched in 1994 as a program of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), PEMSEA operates with the goal of protecting the marine ecosystem and sustainably utilizing marine resources in the East Asia region. Its member countries include 11 nations, such as Korea, China, Japan, and North Korea, with its secretariat located in Manila, Philippines.
The term of office for Kwon Seok-jae as chairperson of the technical committee is from the 31st of this month until July 30, 2028, spanning three years. He plans to play a key role in strengthening international cooperation in the East Asia region by establishing technology cooperation strategies, providing science-based policy advice, and coordinating regional joint technology projects. Additionally, he will also serve as chairperson of a special working group for developing measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems for blue carbon, establishing a policy certification roadmap, and building ecosystem management mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Kwon Seok-jae earned a Ph.D. in environmental resource economics from the University of Rhode Island after graduating from Sungkyunkwan University. As an expert in marine policy, international cooperation, and marine ecological resources, he has served as executive director of the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK) and president of the Marine Environment Safety Society.
Lee Hee-seung, KIOST president, noted, "The importance of international cooperation for responding to climate crises, coastal disasters, and sustainable utilization of marine resources is growing increasingly significant. Kwon Seok-jae's election as chairperson will strengthen KIOST's international maritime leadership and provide an opportunity for Korea to grow as a central nation in East Asian maritime cooperation."