Byun re-elected to lead Int'l Oceanographic Commission

Byun Sang-kyung, left, chairman of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), poses with Executive Secretary Wendy Watson-Wright, center, and former chairman Javier Valladares at the IOC general assembly in Paris, Wednesday. Byun was re-elected for another two-year term. / Courtesy of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries

By Kwon Ji-youn

Oceanography expert Byun Sang-kyung was re-elected chairman of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its general assembly in Paris on Wednesday.

The commission said his re-election was approved by a unanimous vote.

“I will work to strengthen and expand research we are doing now related to climate changes, issues with carbon dioxide and tsunamis,” Byun said. “These are all topics that point toward our final goal of contributing to human development through marine developments.”

The commission is a global organization under UNESCO that handles marine sciences and policies.

It was established in 1960 and has some 140 countries as members. The organization deals with marine disasters including tsunamis and global warming. Korea joined the commission in 1961.

Byun, who is also a research counselor at the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), was first elected chairman in June 2011, the first Korean to take the position.

According to staff, he was selected among other candidates for his dedication and hard work.

Byun graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in marine biology and oceanography. He received his master’s and doctoral degrees in France.

He served as president of KIOST from 2002 to 2005, and as director of the Korean Society of Oceanography from 2006 to 2007. In 2009, he held office as the commission’s vice chairperson.