The 17th Ocean Day anniversary event took place at the Korean Pavilion of Expo 2012 Yeosu on May 31.

Approximately 1,000 people attend the anniversary event held under the theme “Our Sea Meets the World.” Among those on hand were Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik; Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Kwon Do-youp; Jeollanam-do Gov. Park Joon-young; Busan Mayor Hur Nam-shik; Rep. Woo Yoon-keun; and Yeosu Mayor Kim Choong-seok. 

It was in 1996 that Ocean Day was designated as a government ceremonial day to commemorate the establishment of the trading hub Cheonghaejin by Jang Bogo on May 31. The ocean, a treasure house of ecological and natural resources, is perceived not only as a driving force behind green growth, but also as a space to enhance a forward-looking spirit among the young and provide pleasure and dreams to all people. In this regard, celebrating Ocean Day provided the opportunity to publicize the significance of the seas and contribute to making Korea a maritime powerhouse.

The anniversary event also coincided with an event for experiencing diverse marine sports, including canoeing, kayaking, and sailing in Uncheong Park in Yeosu.

In addition to the anniversary event, a variety of events marking Ocean Day were held at major ports and beaches across the nation prior to and after Ocean Day. They included hands-on events such as making mockup boats and miniature lighthouses and riding on ships. The government performed a variety of activities designed to promote maritime education and awareness of the ocean. 

Meanwhile, during the anniversary event, the coveted Order of Industrial Merit Service, Gold Tower, went to Lee Suk-hui, president of Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. He has been credited with contributing to the development of the domestic maritime industry since 1974. He was praised for his role in overcoming the unprecedented crisis that hit the Korean maritime industry in 2011 and the stabilization of the global maritime market and enhancing the industry’s global standing.

The awarding of government orders and prizes to those who are at work in the field and in their specialized areas was of particular significance in celebration of Ocean Day.

Skipper Kim Hyun-yul of STX Maritime Service Research Ship Aaron was honored with the Order of Industrial Service Merit, Tin Tower, in recognition for salvaging the troubled Russian ship Sparta, which was shipwrecked off the Ross Sea in the Antarctic, without his crew suffering casualties, and for promoting ties with Russia and improving the nation’s standing.

Prof. Sung Hyo-hyun of Ewha Womans University was awarded the Service Merit Medal for his role in having 10 Korean undersea features of the East Sea and eight undersea feature names of the West Sea put on a digital gazetteer of undersea feature names, IHO publication B-8, by the Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFU) in 2007. It is the first time that Korean undersea feature names have been made available in the international community. He was praised for his role in aborting Japan’s bid to put the Sea of Japan instead of the East Sea in the publication of the general bathymetric chart of the oceans by the GENECO earlier this year. 

Marine Korea President Yoon Tae-geun was presented with the Prime Minister’s Prize in recognition of his contribution to the development of the maritime-leisure industry while working in the field for 18 years. He was praised for becoming the first Korean to sail around the world alone and for his leading role in expanding the base of the Korean yacht industry by operating a sailing school.