Moon Seong-hyeok, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, "Will Establish World Fisheries University to Contribute to International Community"

October 16 Visit to Pukyong National University for Inspection of the ‘FAO World Fisheries University Pilot Project’

Minister Moon Seok-hyeok of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries visited the Yongdang Campus of Pukyong National University in Busan on October 16 to inspect the pilot project site of the World Fisheries University.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Moon Sung-hyuk, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, visited Pukyong National University Yongdang Campus in Nam-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 16th and toured the joint pilot project site of the UN FAO World Fisheries University.

The World Fisheries University refers to a master's degree graduate school under the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) operated to strengthen the fisheries sector capacity of developing countries.

A joint pilot project between FAO and Korea has been underway at Pukyong National University since March in preparation for its official establishment.

Thirty students from 22 countries including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Pacific island nations are enrolled in master's programs in fisheries aquaculture technology, fisheries resource management, and fisheries social sciences.

At a meeting with students that day, Minister Moon said, "We are promoting the establishment of the FAO and World Fisheries University to share Korea's economic growth experience through fisheries workforce education with other countries," adding, "The future roles of students are important to nurture talent from developing countries through the World Fisheries University and contribute to the development of developing countries and the international community."

Minister Moon stated, "Today, Korea is the 12th largest economy in the world and leads global culture and content with Hallyu culture represented by K-pop, but in the 1960s, Korea was a poor country with a per capita GDP of just around 100 dollars."

He emphasized the importance of fisheries technology, saying, "In 1965, Korea established a fisheries education center through a 1 million dollar FAO and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project, and the people trained here led the growth of the fisheries industry, which brought Korea to where it is today."

Minister Moon is a former professor at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden, an educational institution under the UN IMO (International Maritime Organization), which serves as a role model for the World Fisheries University.

In response to a student's question about "the contributions of WMU graduates to their home countries and the international community," he introduced, "So far, over 5,000 WMU master's and doctoral graduates from 170 countries are active in various fields such as government, universities, corporations, and international organizations."

The event was attended by Jang Young-soo, the 7th president-elect of Pukyong National University, Lee Sang-go, dean of the Pukyong National University World Fisheries Graduate School, Woo Dong-sik, Director of International Cooperation Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Park Kyung-chul, Director of Busan Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, and Lim Jeong-hyun, Director of Fisheries Policy Division of Busan City, among others.

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