To Stress Importance of Sea

14th Ocean Day honors 135 people in areas related to the sea including three Gold Towers awardees

The 14th Ocean Day on May 31, which was scheduled to have been held with a main theme of "Exciting Ocean and Green Hope for the Future,"did not have a ceremony this year due to former President Roh Moo-hyun's suicide and the ensuing national funeral service.
But the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs released the details of the ceremony including the speech of Minister Chung Jong-hwan and the list of medal winners in connection with their achievements in the ocean-related business areas such as maritime shipping, fisheries and the operation of harbors, among others.
Minister Chung, in his speech released to mark Ocean Day, said the importance of the sea and its wise management is being spread around the world and that the matter should receive the nation's focus.
"On the occasion of Ocean Day, we should get the entire country behind the 2012 Yeosu International Expo, which currently is in the second stage of preparation, to make it a great success and an occasion to further develop the maritime industry and maritime science and technology,"Chung said.
The ministry presented a total of 135 people in the areas of maritime shipping and fishery industries with medals and citations for achievements in their respective areas of business.























The top award, the Industrial Merit Gold Tower Medal, went to President Park Boo-in of Dongwon Industrial Co. for his achievements in the production of canned mackerel, the exploration of new fishing areas, the development of new fishing technology, and for making fishery equipment more scientific.
The second highest honor, the Industrial Merit Silver Tower Medal, went to President Suh Jeong-ho of Gyeonggi-Pyeongtaek Harbor Authority and President Kim Young-sei of Woonam Chemical Shipping Co.
President Suh has been recognized for his role in upgrading the harbor's service to a level high enough to compete with other harbors in the country, while President Kim received the medal in recognition of his contribution to invigorating the coastal shipping industry.
The citations went to 11 people who contributed to the development of marine science including Professor Lee Sang-mook of Seoul National University who is compared to Dr. Stephen Hawking in his field in Korea.
The government designated May 31 as Ocean Day in 1996, following the enforcement of the U.N. Ocean Law Agreement in November 1994, to enlighten the public on the importance of the sea and encourage them with the spirit of the exploration of the ocean.
The government has commemorated the day with a ceremony every year by holding various events across the country in cooperation with local autonomous entities and civic organizations.
This year's ceremony was put off indefinitely due to the national funeral for former President Roh Moo-hyun to pay due respect and mourn his death, although it was to take place at the Jeongok Harbor in Gyeonggi Province, where the 2009 Gyeonggi International Boat and Yacht Show was held on June 2.
The theme for this year's ceremony was to be "Exciting Ocean, Green Hope for the Future," in line with the importance of the sea in national policies and the need for the systematic and long-term management of the sea and to lay emphasis on the growth of the marine leisure industry as a new growth engine as a major government policy goal.
May 31 was named as Ocean Day by the government as it was believed to be the day when Adm. Chang Po-go of the Shilla Dynasty launched the dynasty's naval base, "Chonghae-jin," in the 9th century as a base for maritime trade.
The government also felt the need for the establishment of such a day as the U.N. declared Ocean Law Agreement to manage the division of the sea and the age of maritime competition and to manage the country's preservation and development of the seas surrounding the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
As is widely known, 71 percent of the earth's surface consists of the sea, with 90 percent of the earth's living creatures making their home in the sea.
Also, the sea has tremendous natural resources including oil, gas, methane gas, nickel, iron, manganese, copper and others. nw

(Photos from above) Minister Chung Jong-hwan of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs speaks at the ceremony for 62nd Construction Day at Construction Hall June 18. Minister Chung presents an award at the ceremony in recognition of the award winners contribution to the growth of the construction industry.