The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) is a private Korean
oceanography
Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamic ...
research organization in
Busan
Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, w ...
,
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
. Formerly known as the Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI), it started functioning with the new name of Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology from July 1, 2012.
History
KIOST was founded on October 30th, 1973, under the name of the Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI). It was originally located at the
Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic of ...
(KIST).
On July 1, 2012, the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology was officially established.
In 2014, the KIOST unveiled a six-legged robot that can walk the ocean floor. The robot is 2.4 x 2.4 x 1.3 meters in dimension. It weighs 650 kilos and contains 30 motors. In January 2017, after North Korea led nuclear tests at the
Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site
Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site () was the only known nuclear test site of North Korea. Nuclear tests were conducted at the site in October 2006, May 2009, February 2013, January 2016, September 2016, and September 2017.
Geography
The si ...
, the KIOST published a study showing how radioactive materials from those tests probably traveled to the tip of Russia and Northern Japan. In July 2017, the KIOST partnered with the US
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (abbreviated as NOAA ) is an United States scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce that forecasts weather, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditio ...
to further the Research Moored Array for African-Asian-Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction. In July 2018, when a South Korean company claimed to have found the wreck of a Russian warship (the ''
Dmitrii Donskoi'') that hypothetically contained more than $130 billion in gold, the KIOST told the media it knew about the ship's location since 2003.
Mission
The main functions of KIOST are:
# To perform basic and applied research to promote the efficient use of coastal and ocean resources
# To undertake comprehensive surveys and studies of Korea's seas and open oceans
# To conduct scientific research in polar and tropical regions, especially in Antarctica and the South Pacific
# To develop technologies related to coastal and harbor engineering, ships and ocean engineering, and maritime safety
# To support and cooperate with other government agencies, universities and private industries toward the development of marine resources and the protection of the ocean environment.
# To coordinate and participate in international oceanographic research projects.
The KIOST also undertakes fundamental research in
Antarctica
Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...
. The main areas of interest are geological and geophysical science, life sciences, and climate science. The institute owns the
RV Onnuri
RV ''Onnuri'' is one of the Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI)'s research vessels. She was built in Bergen, Norway in 1991 by Mjellem & Karlsen Verft AS and designed by Skipsteknisk AS. She has been used to supply Korea's Ant ...
, which is used to supply the year-round Antarctic station the
King Sejong Station
The King Sejong Station is a research station for the Korea Antarctic Research Program that is named after King Sejong the Great of Joseon (1397–1450).
Established on February 17, 1988, it consists of 11 facility buildings and two observato ...
(62.13'S; 58°45'W).
Partnerships
KIOST has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and bilateral agreements with national research institutes in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
,
Micronesia
Micronesia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, consisting of about 2,000 small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a close shared cultural history with three other island regions: the Philippines to the west, Polynesia to the east, and ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
and
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
. Tertiary educational partners include the
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
*Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
*Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including the ...
,
Rutgers University
Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...
and the
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is one of the largest marine research and education centers in the United States. Founded in 1940, VIMS is unique among marine science institutions in its legal mandate to provide research, educatio ...
at the
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...
in the United States. Partner organizations include
Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans
The Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), which was founded in 1999, is a consortium of major oceanographic institutions around the world, represented by their Directors. POGO's goal is to promote global operational oceanograph ...
and
.
References
External links
Official Website
{{authority control
Research institutes in South Korea
South Korea and the Antarctic
Oceanographic organizations
Antarctic research
1973 establishments in South Korea