The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST; Lee Hyi Seung, President) announced it hosted an inauguration ceremony for Mr. Lee Hyi Seung, its 12th president, at the KIOST Busan Headquarters Auditorium located in Yeongdo-gu on May 27, 2024. The new president is beginning a term of four years.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Mr. Cho Seung-hwan, National Assembly Member-elect for Jung-gu and Yeongdo-gu in Busan, Mr. Kim Sung-beom, Deputy Minister of Marine Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), Mr. Cheong Daekyo, President of KIOST’s Board of Directors, Mr. Hong Key-yong, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering, and Mr. Shin Hyoung-Chul, Director of Korea Polar Research Institute and the Marine Industry Cluster in Dongsam Innovation District, Yeongdo-gu. They were joined by all of KIOST’s staff members in welcoming the incoming president.

President Lee is a graduate of Seoul National University (1988) and holds a B.S. in Chemistry, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Seoul National University Graduate School. Since joining the Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute (predecessor to KIOST) in 2000, he has held key positions such as director of the Marine Biotechnology Research Centre, dean of KIOST School, and vice president of KIOST.

Since 2009, he has been leading the effort to develop human resources in the marine sector as a professor at the University of Science & Technology (UST), and has also been active in external activities, serving as Chairman of the Korean Society for Marine Biotechnology and Commissioner of the Busan Metropolitan City Science & Technology Promotion Committee.

“As the new president of Korea’s marine science and technology research institute, I feel a great sense of responsibility and mission,” said President Lee, adding, “I will do my best to make KIOST one of the world's leading marine research institutes based on its excellent research results and infrastructure throughout the past 50 years.”