Weather forecast expert stresses steady effort

Ban Ki-song, managing director at Kweather

By Kim Bo-eun

Whenever weather becomes a news item, a certain person is often featured on news channels.

This person is Ban Ki-song, managing director at Kweather, a private weather service provider. Ban is also known as “a legendary weather forecaster.”

He got the nickname when he served in the military, where he became the first soldier to receive a presidential citation for his contributions to the development of weather forecasting.

Several cases proved his excellence in weather forecasting. In September 2000, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) as well as the forecasting stations in the U.S., Japan and China predicted that Typhoon Saomai would move north toward the West Sea. However, Ban stood alone when he forecast that it would move east toward Busan, and as a result of measures taken based on his prediction, a military base in the region was protected from severe damage.

In 2009, Ban became head of the forecasting center at Kweather, where he continued to exhibit brilliance.

Last March 8 when there was a forest fire in the southeastern Pohang, Ulsan region, he forecast five days earlier on national television that outbreaks of large-scale forest fires were possible along the east coast, even though it was not the season for forest fires.

In addition, Ban alone correctly predicted that there would be no snow on President Park Geun-hye’s inauguration day.

Forecasts are made based on scientific data. While the same data is available for all, what determines a correct forecast is the ability to accurately analyze and interpret the data, said Ban.

“Inaccurate forecasts result from the smallest differences in interpretation. Insight plays an important role here,” he said.

In order to gain such insight and expertise, steady effort ― rather than inborn talent ― matters, Ban added.

“I tell my students at Yonsei University to try to pour four hours a day into the field they wish to work in, and make this last for 10 years. After a decade of steady effort, anyone can become a worldwide expert in whatever field they choose,” he said.

“What is important is that you discover what you like, enjoy and find intriguing.”

Ban majored in meteorology at Yonsei University and is now teaching his juniors there. He currently serves as policy advisor to the KMA and writes a weather column for vernacular papers such as Sports Seoul and Defense Daily. Ban has authored numerous books on weather and provides lectures on climate change and green growth to companies, local governments, public corporations and universities.