(NEWS) Republic of Korea Professorial Chair Established

December

2014

Republic of Korea Professorial Chair Established

From 9-12 December, WMU Acting President, Professor Neil Bellefontaine, and INMARSAT Chair and Head of Shipping and Port Management, Professor Daniel S.H. Moon, traveled to the Republic of Korea. The main focus of the visit was to meet with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) to finalize an agreement establishing a Republic of Korea Professorial Chair at WMU. The University has a long-standing and harmonious relationship with the MOF which has hosted Field Studies for WMU students since 2004.

Acting President Bellefontaine and Professor Moon met with MOF Vice Minister, Mr. Young-Suk Kim, as well as several staff including WMU alumni Director Maritime Safety Policy Division, Mr. Minjong Kim (M.Sc. 2006 MA), Deputy Director, Mr. Inchul Kim (M.Sc. 2012 MSEA), Mr. Changyong Lee, (M.Sc. 2014 MSEA) Deputy Director, and Deputy Director, G.S. Choi. The Minutes of Agreement for the establishment of a Korean Professorial Chair in Shipping and Port Management were signed on 12 December. The Agreement provides for a non-fixed term Korean Professorial Chair that will be filled by a highly qualified candidate in early 2015. Further, the Agreement provides for Fellowships for members of the MOF staff to study in the M.Sc. program in Malmö.

In addition to meetings at the MOF, the WMU delegation visited the Korean Shipowners' Association (KSA) headquarters where they had the opportunity to meet with two alumni, Capt. Bongiee Joh (MSc 2006 SM), Director of the Marine Affairs Team and Mr. Kyong Hoon Kim (MSc 2013 SPM), Deputy General Manager, as well as Mr. Chul Jung Lee, General Manager of Marine Affairs Team. KSA has been a supporter of WMU field studies to Korea for the MSEA specialization by sponsoring the 'River cruise welcome party' on the HAN river. Further, they visited the INHA University Graduate School of Logistics where they met with the Dean, Professor Hun-Koo Ha, and WMU alumnus, Professor Young-Tae Chang (MSc 1989 PSA). Professor Bellefontaine addressed the students at the Asia Pacific School of Logistics.

The Republic of Korea Alumni Association hosted a dinner meeting that was attended by six WMU alumni that are employed in various maritime organizations in the country. The attendees from MOF included, Mr. Inchul Kim , Mr. Changeyong Lee, and Mr. An Kwang (M.Sc. 2010 MEOM), Deputy Director. Additional attendees included Mr. Seog-Bae Yun (M.Sc. MEOM 2009), Director at the Korea Maritime Pilots Association; Mr.Uk Kim (M.Sc. 2009 MEOM), General Manager at the Korean Environmental Management Corporation; and Mr. Young Hun Min (M.Sc. 2010 MLP), Deputy Principal Surveyor at Korea Ship Safety Technology Authority.

For more information about ties between the Republic of Korea and WMU, click here.

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