KORDI Looking to Make Bio-resources into Energy Sources

Its president says 'The ocean becomes more important since the future of the nation hinges on the development of the ocean'

The following are excerpts of an interview between NewsWorld and Kang Jung-keuk, president of the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute (KORDI), who elaborated on KORDI's policies designed to brace for the arrival of the ?ra of the Ocean."
Question: What's the significance of the nation's scientific survey around Dokdo Island on the occasion of Ocean Day?
Answer: As the territorial struggle among nations is intensifying in the 21st Century, Korea enacted the Act on the Sustainable Use of Dokdo in May 2005 and designated KORDI as an institution specializing in the research of the ecosystems and natural resources on Dokdo and its surrounding sea areas. KORDI performs diverse research projects aimed at the sustainable preservation and management of the island, our beautiful land and a treasure house of resources.
A miniature of the ecosystems of the ocean and with a confirmed diversity of scientific research, Dokdo needs to be examined in a scientific and systematic fashion since there are deep-sea creatures, unseen in ordinary seas, and diverse oceanic features.
In December 2006, a team headed by Dr. Noh Hyun-soo discovered two nematodes species, which have been never found anywhere else in the world, in a sea area about 72 meters deep around the island and named one of the two nematode species as "Prochaetosoma dokdoense." We're awaiting the publication of a paper on Prochaetosoma dokdoense, which has been approved for publication in the globally recognized journal Marine Biology Research. The outcome of this scientific research will serve as an opportunity to publicize Korea's actual execution of territorial rights over Dokdo.
Q: The ocean sees its role expanding wider in the 21st century than ever. Will you tell us about the significance of the ocean for enhancing national competitiveness and KORDI's responsibilities?
A: The 21st century is called the "Era of the Ocean" and nations around the world are turning their attention to the ocean due to limitations of land space and natural resources. These days, as global economic uncertainties including energy demand and supply mismatch and a shortage of food and industrial resources occur and nations show signs of stockpiling resources and using resources as weapons, the importance of ocean research is becoming more apparent.
In particular, for Korea, a nation with a narrow territory and poor natural resources, the ocean becomes more important since the future of the nation hinges on the development of the ocean.
KORDI serves as a think tank responsible for the development of the ocean so that it can maximize the values of the ocean. We're working on climate change research for the prevention of coastal natural disasters, the restoration of marine ecosystems and deep-sea resources, clean marine energy, marine biotechnology, floating-type structures, value-added ships, deep-sea unmanned bathyscaphe and other future-oriented oceanic science technology research projects.
Q: These days, globally, the "Low-carbon, green growth" paradigm emerges as an essential issue. Will you elaborate on any connection between the ocean and green growth?
A: Green growth is a concept of maximizing synergetic effects of two values ― the environment and economic growth. While addressing a commemorative speech at the ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the nation's founding, President Lee Myung-bak declared that green growth means sustainable growth for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollutants. He clarified the definition of low-carbon, green growth, saying that it is a new national development paradigm designed to nurture new growth engines and create new jobs through green technology and clean energy.
One of the representative science technology research projects related to the ocean that can lead to green growth concerns the development of technologies designed to respond to climate change. Global warming, caused by a rise in greenhouse gas emissions across the globe, cause not only casualties and property damages, but also an increase in oceanic water levels that are responsible for coastal inundations, a shortage of water, famine, the destruction of the ecosystem and damages to farmland and crude oil fields. It is a project on the research of technologies designed to respond to climate change to solve or reduce such damages.
Expo 2012 Yeosu will contribute to taking the lead in green growth related to the ocean. True to the theme, "The Living Ocean and Coast," the exposition will likely give the nation an opportunity not only to bring about economic benefits ― an estimated 10 trillion won in production induction effects, 4 trillion won in value-added induction effects and the creation of about 89,000 jobs ― but also to ensure balanced national development and secure new economic growth engines.
Q: Will you tell us about KORDI's efforts to secure new energy and resources in the future and how much they are expected to pay off?
A: Approximately 75,000 sq. km of deep-sea resources deposit areas in the Pacific, three-fourths the size of Korea's territory have been secured by Korea's own development of deep-sea resources development projects. They are believed to have 510 million tons of manganese nodule reserves, sufficient enough to produce 3 million tons of manganese nodules annually for 100 years after production starts. Last year, Korea was awarded the right to explore a hydrothermal sulfide minerals mining block in the oceanic area of Tonga, the size of Gyeongsangbuk-do, auguring well the prospects of securing strategic metal minerals in the future.
In advanced stages of commercialization in the development of oceanic energy sources to replace fossil fuels are technologies related to barrage power using the difference in height between low and high tides and tidal stream power using the energy of tidal currents.
Korea Water Resources Corp. is constructing a 254,000kW-class tidal barrage power plant designed to improve water quality and generate power without causing pollution in Lake Shihwa, Gyeonggi Province. Feasibility studies on large-sized tidal power plants in Incheon Bay and Garolim Bay in Chungcheongnam-do are under way. The Lake Shiwa tidal power plant is capable of generating approximately 550GWh annually, an equivalent of the annual power consumption of 100,000 households. In Korea, each household consumed an average of about 5.5MWh of electricity in 2006.
A pilot tidal stream system with a capacity of 1,000kW was inaugurated at Uldolmok, Jeollanam-do on May 14 this year to generate power without emitting pollutants. The pilot project is designed to establish infrastructure for commercializing tidal stream systems through the operation of an experimental tidal plant. A feasibility study on the Uldolmok tidal stream system plant for commercial use is under way. A master plan on the project, calling for an optimum size of power generation and optimum development methods, will be established in late 2009 when the feasibility study is finished. Optimum supply-demand projections will be made after annual power generation amounts are calculated following the completion of a feasibility study on power demand and supply. The islands of Jangjuksudo and Maenggolsudo will be studied as candidate sites for the construction of commercial tidal stream system plants. Korea East-West Power Co., one of the business partners, aims at dedicating a commercial tidal stream system plant by 2013 after finishing basic and actual designs by 2010.
KORDI is working on the development of the technology to produce bio ethanol using seaweed as an alternative to fossil fuels with the goal of establishing the infrastructure for a pilot production plant for bio energy and mass processing materials by 2012 and the completion of the transfer of the technology to industrialize bio energy by 2013.
It will help the nation effectively cope with the obligations of climate change treaties and act as a substitute for fossil fuel imports. For instance, if seaweeds are grown annually using a 10,000 sq. meter plot of idle land, up to 5,000 tons of biodiesel can be produced to raise 6 billion won in annual revenues, based on a projection that imported soybeans are traded for 1,200 won per liter. This is equivalent to 3 percent of 180,000 tons in the 2008 demand for biodiesel. The wider the seaweed farming area is expanded, the more it would bring about economic benefits.
KORDI, which has successfully secured marine biological resources in oceanic and extreme environments, is carrying out research on their systematic management to brace for disputes over biological resources of the future. It is designed to secure value-added biological materials and leading substances as well as stabilize domestically-based industries and foster new growth engine industries. We have completed the establishment of a bank on the genome of select, harmless living organizations, genetic information and the Marine & Extreme Bioresources Collection. It is conducting diverse research on the commercialization by making the most of established infrastructure and biological resources and related information resources. KORDI has made achievements ― the transfer of four technologies on the related research and the publication of about 20 theses on the Scientific Citation Index. The cases in focus include bioremediation of petroleum pollution in the sea.
KORDI is trying to go global in terms of research infrastructure and research manpower by connecting its infrastructure ― Marine & Extreme Bioresources Collection and information bank ― with counterparts from advanced countries. It is striving to work on state-initiated studies on commercialization and create new industries related to biotechnology engineering by focusing on original substances, genomes, genetic substances, enzymes, leading substances of new medicines as well as technologies.
Such a move is expected to cope well with nations's bids to make bioresources into energy sources by contributing greatly to enhancing Korea's competitive edge in the future marine biotechnology sector.
Q: What tasks are KORDI undertaking in order to evolve into a world-class research institute and what's your future plan and vision?
A: Global collaboration is needed to deal with such issues as a rise in temperature and sea water levels, caused by global warming and cross-border pollutants. With foreign joint research centers playing leading roles, KORDI seeks to explore joint research study tasks in each region and international joint researches as well as to proactively engage in activities by international organizations related to marine science and technology.
Taking the helm at the research institute, I will try to improve efficiency of research and yield achievements of practical research as well as break the mold in order to meet internal and external environmental changes.
I strive to meet demands from our customers and staff members by focusing on purpose-driven, performance-oriented and client-oriented management to yield practical outcomes and arrange transparent compensation systems.
In particular, KORDI is redoubling its efforts to reestablish itself as a reliable research institution, respected and recognized by everyone. nw

Kang Jung-keuk, president of the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute (KORDI)