(NEWS) Esteemed Delegation from Republic of Korea Visits WMU

October

2015

Esteemed Delegation from Republic of Korea Visits WMU

On 6 October, WMU welcomed an esteemed delegation from the Republic of Korea led by Mr. Ki-june YOO, Minister, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). The delegation traveled to Copenhagen for a Green Growth Alliance meeting between the Republic of Korea and Denmark, and the Danish Maritime Forum on 7 October. The close proximity of Copenhagen provided an excellent opportunity for the delegation to make a courtesy visit to WMU to see the new premises and meet with WMU President, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry.

In a high-level courtesy visit, President Doumbia-Henry thanked Minister YOO and the officials present for their continued support of the University noting the many contributions that have been made by MOF as well as many other important organizations in the Republic of Korea. Minister YOO and President Doumbia-Henry mutually expressed their interest in continued and expanded collaboration.

Following the high-level introductory meeting, a presentation about WMU was made by President Doumbia-Henry to the entire delegation. Coffee followed in the WMU World Bistro which has received a significant donation from the Korea Shipowners’ Association. The informal gathering provided the opportunity for the delegation to meet the Korean students who are currently studying at WMU. Four students from the Republic of Korea will graduate in November with the Class of 2015 including Ms Hyun LEE, President of the WMU Student Council. There is one student from the Republic of Korea in the Class of 2016 and there are currently 71 alumni.

The Republic of Korea is a long-standing and significant contributor to WMU. This past May, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between MOF and WMU to finalize a Republic of Korea Professorial Chair position. The Republic of Korea Chair is a non-fixed term appointment that was filled by Dr. Dong-Wook Song as of 1 September. In addition, since 2004 MOF has hosted Field Studies for WMU students in the Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration (MSEA) specialization, and has provided scholarships through the IMO for at least four students annually. This year the fund is supporting a total of five students from five different countries including India, Kenya, Liberia, Panama, and the Republic of Korea. In addition to Minister YOO, MOF was represented during the visit by Mr. Gyeong-cheol PARK, Assistant Minister, Mr. Roh-hun MYUNG, Head of International Logistics Team, and Deputy Directors Mr. Yong-han PARK and Mr. Sang-cheol SIM.

The Korean Register of Shipping (KR) was represented in the visiting delegation by Dr. Bum-shik PARK, Chairman & CEO and Mr. Hyung-chul LEE, Executive Vice President. Since 2012 the Korean Register of Shipping has provided sets of KR-CON to WMU students and staff. KR-CON is an international, award-winning database program of IMO instruments issued by the Korean Register of Shipping under an agreement with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Each year the overall monetary value of the KR-CON donation is roughly 250,000USD. In addition, KR donated 32,000USD to the new WMU building and supports the field study to Korea for MSEA students.

WMU alumnus, Mr. Young-Moo KIM (M.Sc. 1991 PSA), Secretary General of the Korea Shipowners’ Association (KSA) was part of the delegation as well as Mr. Kyong-Hoon KIM, Senior Manager. This past May, KSA donated approximately 45,000USD, to support the new World Bistro facilities at the University. KSA has also been a supporter of the MSEA field studies to Korea by sponsoring the 'River cruise welcome party' on the HAN river.

Additional major contributions by the Republic of Korea to WMU include a 2015 Kia Optima 2.0 CVVL Hybrid car donated by HYUNDAI GLOVIS this past May, and a donation of 21,000USD from Shindong Digitech Co. Ltd for a computer lab in the new building.

Further high-level delegates who participated in the WMU visit included HE Mr. Young-sam MA, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Denmark, Mr. Chang-keun YOO, CEO & President of Incheon Port Authority (IPA), Mr. Gi-Hoon HONG, President, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Mr. Chinsoo LIM, Vice President, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) who was joined by WMU Alumnus Dr. Han-Seon PARK (M.Sc. 2009 MSEA), Researcher, Mr. Taeg-Gyu, Chief Maritime Officer of Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd. and Hanjin Shipping was represented by Mr. Ki-Hoon HONG, Head of Corporate Planning Group. Both IPA and KIOST have been supporters of the MSEA field studies to the Republic of Korea.

The delegation’s visit to WMU was facilitated by Dr. Daniel S.H. Moon, INMARSAT Chair and Head of Shipping and Port Management, who originally comes from the Republic of Korea.

The esteemed delegation from the Republic of Korea included the following:

MINISTRY OF OCEANS AND FISHERIES, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Mr. Ki-juneYOO
Minister

Mr. Gyeong-cheol PARK
Assistant Minister

Mr. Roh-hun MYUNG
Head of International Logistics Team

Mr. Yong-han PARK
Deputy Director

Mr. Sang-cheol SIM
Deputy Director

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Denmark

HE Mr. Young-sam MA
Ambassador

Mr. Hyun-soo YUN
Councillor

Mr. Joo-il LEE
Director

Mr. Se-jin PARK
2nd Secretary

INCHEON PORT AUTHORITY (IPA)

Mr. Chang-keun YOO
CEO & President

Mr. Chee-young PARK
Secretary Office Manager

KOREA INSTITUTE OF OCEAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (KIOST)

Mr. Gi-Hoon HONG
President

Mr. Tae-Young KIM
Senior Director

Mr. Youn-Ho LEE
Strategy Development Section Leader

KOREAN REGISTER OF SHIPPING

Mr. Bum-shik PARK
Chairman & CEO

Mr. Hyung-chul LEE
Executive Vice President

KOREA MARITIME INSTITUTE

Mr. Chinsoo LIM
Vice President

Mr. Han-Seon PARK
Researcher, Maritime Safety Department

Mr. Hee-young RYU
Shipping Market Research Center

KOREA SHIPOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

Mr. Young-Moo KIM
Secretary General

Mr. Kyong-Hoon KIM
Senior Manager

HYUNDAI MERCHANT MARINE CO. LTD.

Mr. Taeg-Gyu LEE
Chief Maritime Officer

HANJIN SHIPPING

Mr. Tae-Hoon KIM
Senior Vice President
Corporate Planning Group

Mr. Ki-Hoon HONG
Head of Corporate Planning Group

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