Cho Seonghwan, New ISO President, "Will Enhance Global Crisis Response and Expand Developing Countries' Participation"

Cho Sung-hwan, the newly appointed president of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), announced key policy directions during his term and has begun active activities. South Korea succeeded in entering the ISO Council, the highest decision-making body of ISO policy, and with President Cho becoming the first Korean to serve as ISO president, it is evaluated that Korea's status within the international organization has been strengthened.

On the 21st (local time), President Cho delivered a speech containing five core policies during his term at the ISO General Assembly held in Brisbane, Australia. First, he pledged to implement a sustainable ISO 2030 strategy through cooperation with ISO stakeholders.

He then emphasized establishing ISO governance to respond to global crises such as climate change, and creating a practical cooperation system to enable developing countries to develop and disseminate standards more easily and sustainably. He also added that, in line with advancing technologies, communication touchpoints will be increased to promote the spread of standards and establish an age- and sector-specific standard education system.

Joseonghwan, the newly appointed ISO Chairman (CEO of Hyundai Mobis), is giving a speech at the ISO General Assembly held in Brisbane, Australia on the 21st.
[Photo by Hyundai Mobis]

Founded in 1946 in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Organization for Standardization is an international organization that develops and manages international standards. It has 167 member countries. It establishes standardization in various technical fields to improve quality, safety, compatibility, and efficiency.

Since President Cho was elected as the first Korean ISO president last year, South Korea has actively engaged with member countries and entered the ISO Council, the decision-making body. This means that South Korea can now participate proactively in the ISO policy decision-making process. Kim Se-jong, president of the Korea Testing Laboratory, will serve as a board member from next year until 2026.

At this annual meeting, South Korea decided to actively participate in ISO’s developing country support policy, which promotes the use of international standards in developing countries, through an agreement with ISO. Additionally, South Korea shared international standardization strategies through bilateral meetings with the United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, and renewed a bilateral agreement with Singapore to continue mutual standard cooperation.

Jin Jong-wook, president of the National Institute of Technology and Standards, said, "South Korea’s status within ISO has risen as it succeeded in entering the Council following the presidency," and added, "Next year, when the terms of the president and council member begin simultaneously, we will take a step forward as a leading standardization powerhouse."

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