The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) hosted its 23rd Regular Board Meeting on March 28, 2016, where it appointed Lee Young geol, president of Semyung University, to the position of third chairman of the Board of Directors.

Chairman Lee began his career in public office by passing the 23rd Higher Civil Service Examination in 1979 while studying economics at Seoul National University. He has since served at the Presidential Secretariat and as the Deputy Minister of the National Assembly Budget Office, Second Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, Vice Minister of National Defense, and later Minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) under the Park Geun-hye administration. In April 2015, he took office as the president of Semyung University.

A KIOST official commented that the appointment of a chairman with a long background in public office will contribute to the launch of KIOST’s “Busan era” and the beginning of a renaissance in ocean science and technology.

The term of office for the new chairman is from April 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018, as approved by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea.