Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) said on the 18th (local time) that Shin Hyeong-cheol, head of Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), was elected vice president at the delegates' meeting of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) held in Oslo, Norway.
A Korean was elected SCAR vice president for the second time in 16 years, following former Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) head Kim Ye-dong in 2010. Kim was also elected SCAR president in 2021, the first from Asia.
SCAR was founded in 1958 and is the top international academic body in the Antarctic field, currently comprising 46 member countries and nine scientific bodies under the International Science Council. It sets the strategy and direction for Antarctic scientific research, develops international joint research projects, and provides scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP).
Director Shin is a marine biologist who graduated from the Department of Oceanography at Seoul National University and earned a Ph.D. in marine ecology from the University of Tasmania in Australia. Since joining Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) in 2002, Shin has contributed to international cooperation in the polar field, serving as vice chair of the Scientific Committee of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) from 2005 to 2006 and as vice chair of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) from 2013 to 2017.
The SCAR vice president assists the president and is substantively responsible for identifying scientific research programs, promoting international cooperation, building capacity, and managing the organization. Four vice presidents divide the roles, and two are elected every two years to maintain continuity. Shin was elected alongside Nerilie Abram, a senior researcher at the Australian Antarctic Division, and the term runs for four years through 2030.
Korea recently secured, jointly with Norway and Chile, the International Coordination Office (ICO) for the "Fifth International Polar Year," and is set to host the 49th ATCM in 2027 and POLAR 2030, the largest academic event in the polar field, in 2030. The election of the vice president is seen as reflecting these diplomatic contributions and the international community's expectations.
Meanwhile, at this meeting, former president Kim Ye-dong, who served as SCAR president from 2021 to 2024, was awarded Honorary Membership, conferred on individuals who have made dedicated contributions to SCAR over many years.
Shin Hyeong-cheol, head of Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), said, "This is the result of our country's trust built in the polar regions and recent achievements being recognized internationally," adding, "We will work to successfully run upcoming international events and programs and to expand Korea's role."