- Designation of the statutory anniversary and the opening ceremony of the National Ocean Satellite Center -

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) held celebrations to mark the Inaugural Hydrography Day in the Republic of Korea as a hybrid event on 21 June 2021 at the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA) and live streamed on YouTube.

Marine information obtained from hydrographic survey, ocean observation and the survey of marine geographical names is closely related to our lives as being the basic data for all activities to preserve, use, and develop the seas, support navigational safety and secure maritime jurisdiction.

Since its launch as a Hydrographic Office under the Ministry of Transportation in 1963, KHOA has been conducting hydrographic survey of our waters, and has published 404 paper charts, 774 Electronic Navigational Chart cells, and 50 nautical publications by observing and predicting from the Korea Ocean Observing Network of 136 stations. In particular, as the use of online and mobile means is increasing recently, marine information is provided to the public through Gaebanghae, an online sea map and marine data service, Korea Ocean Data Market Center, Anjeonhae application which provides safety information from undersea bathymetry to rip currents, and OnBada, ocean forecast broadcasting.

In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the adoption by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) of the World Hydrography Day, to be celebrated annually on 21 of June, with the aim of giving suitable publicity to its work at all levels. Taking this into consideration, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has designated 21 of June to be the Hydrography Day in the Republic of Korea as a statutory anniversary, following the enactment of the Act on Hydrographic Survey and Ocean Observation and the Use of Marine Information on 19 February 2021.

The event was held under the theme of "To the beautifully charted sea, to the glorious future!". At the ceremony, the Secretary-Generals of the IHO, International Maritime Organization and the International Seabed Authority delivered congratulatory videos, while Minister Moon and other domestic speakers also delivered messages on the importance of hydrography in a hybrid format.

Ministerial commendations were awarded to a government official who contributed to establishing a new framework for the use of the East Sea during the last Session of the IHO Assembly, and the Captain of the GageoFishing who installed and managed offshore research stations and territorial sea base points and other individuals to acknowledge their great efforts in the field of hydrography.

In addition, the opening ceremony of the National Ocean Satellite Center (NOSC) was held as a side event. Since its establishment under KHOA in May 2019, the NOSC has been supporting the management of marine territories by observing the seas extensively with the geostationary satellite GEO-KOMPSAT-2B, conserving the marine environment with the monitoring of floating algae, sea surface temperature and marine ecology, and managing marine resources.

Moreover, 30 items of historical survey equipment including a sextant and winners of the Photography Awards in commemoration of the Inaugural Hydrography Day were displayed at the event venue to give a glance of the history of hydrography.

“This event was meaningful in that it was inaugural since the designation of the Hydrography Day as a statutory anniversary and that we were able to look back at the history of hydrography,” said Dr Lae Hyung Hong, Director General of KHOA. “We hope this was an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of hydrography for the protection of marine territories, trade, leisure and many others.”