By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
A Korean researcher has become the vice chairperson of a U.N. oceanography affiliate.
Byun Sang-kyung, researcher at the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI), was one of five vice chairpersons elected to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) at the 25th assembly session held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris Tuesday.
Byun, 59, will hold the post for two years. Korea has been an executive council member since 1993.
``We expect the election will help the country gain international support in marine diplomacy in issues such as the naming of the East Sea and territorial dispute over Dokdo. It will also help Yeosu Expo 2012 attract more attention,'' an official at the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said.
Byun was president of KORDI between 2002 and 2005 and the head of the Korean Society of Oceanography in 2006 and 2007. Since 1997, he has been Korea's representative for the IOC.
Founded in 1960, the IOC promotes international cooperation in ocean research, the integrated management of coasts, the establishment of worldwide ocean observation network and the protection of the marine environment.