Dr. Kwon Seok-jae of Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology Elected Vice Chair of Technical Subcommittee of East Asian Seas Marine Environment Management Cooperation Organization

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Dr. Kwon Seok-jae of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) was elected as the Vice Chair of the Technical Subcommittee of the Executive Committee at the 14th General Assembly of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) held on the 27th.

Established in 1994, PEMSEA began as a regional cooperation program of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP*) and operates with the aim of protecting the ecosystem of the East Asian seas and promoting the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.

The secretariat is located in Manila, Philippines, and the member countries total 11, including South Korea, China, Japan, North Korea, and Cambodia.

The term of office for the newly elected Vice Chair of the Technical Subcommittee, Dr. Kwon Seok-jae, is from the 31st of this month until July 30, 2025. Afterwards, he will automatically succeed to the chair position of the subcommittee and will play a pivotal role in strengthening international cooperation in the East Asian seas for three years.

Dr. Kwon Seok-jae graduated from Sungkyunkwan University and earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island, USA. As an expert in international cooperation and marine policy, he has served as the Executive Director of the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea and as President of the Korean Society of Marine Environment and Safety. He is currently serving as the Director of International Cooperation at KIOST.

Kim Woong-seo, President of KIOST, said, “The importance of international cooperation to address global marine issues such as sea level rise and coastal disaster countermeasures due to climate change is growing.” He added, “With Dr. Kwon Seok-jae’s election as Vice Chair, we expect South Korea’s influence in enhancing cooperation among East Asian countries to be further strengthened.”

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