‘Blue Ocean, Green Korea’

The government awards 199 people with orders, medals and other diverse awards for the development of the ocean and fishery sectors

About 1,000 people representing the government, parliament and the maritime and fisheries sectors assembled at COEX in Seoul on May 31 for a ceremony to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Ocean Day. The theme of the celebration was “Blue Ocean, Green Korea,” with the government reasserting its determination to pursue sustainable growth through the ocean in keeping with the global trend toward a low-carbon, green growth paradigm. Among those on hand at the official ceremony were Prime Minister Chung Un-chan; Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) Chung Jong-hwan; and Minister of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Chang Tae-pyong.
A total of 199 people were presented with orders, medals and other diverse awards in recognition of their contribution to the development of the ocean and fishery sectors. The coveted Order of Industrial Merit, Gold Tower, went to Kim Jin-gon, vice chairman of Dongbang Logistics Co., in recognition of his contribution to the development of the logistics industry by embracing management methods of general companies and restricting a port worker supply regime.
Dr. Chung Kang-sup of the Korea Institute of Geosciences and Marine Resources was honored with the Order of Industrial Merit, Bronze Tower, for developing an original technology for extracting lithium, a major material for rechargeable batteries, from seawater. The government first declared Ocean Day on May 31, 1996, with the purpose of publicizing the significance of the sea to the people and imbuing youth with an aspiration to explore the ocean.
Ocean Week took place across the nation on the occasion of Ocean Day. The general public were given chances to participate in such diverse anniversary events as drawing contests, quiz contests, essay contests, marine and sea photo exhibitions and ocean leisure-sports events. About 600 primary and secondary students selected in a lottery were given an opportunity to observe the Araon, Korea’s only icebreaker anchored at the first pier of Incheon Inner Port during the period between May 24 and May 28. Kim Young-shin, CEO of Korea Marine Finance Corp., and 10 others were awarded with medals for the development and internationalization of the Korean shipping financing industry.
The MLTM expressed its hope that the people would become more aware and concerned about the sea on the occasion of Ocean Day. In particular, with less than two years remaining until Korea hosts the 2012 Yeosu Expo, the ministry expected the anniversary to serve as an impetus for preparing to make the expo a success and boost the future development of the ocean industry and oceanic science and technology. nw

(from top) An official ceremony takes place to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Ocean Day at COEX in Seoul on May 31; Award winners for their contribution to the development of the ocean and fishery sectors pose at an award ceremony; and Prime Minister Chung Un-chan delivers a commemorative speech at the ceremony.