CEO Han Ki-jun of Korea Marine Environment Management Corp. (KOEM)

Korea Marine Environment Management Corp. (KOEM) has devoted itself to preserving and protecting the ocean in the wake of several maritime environment crises over the past 25 years.

KOEM, based on its expertise capability in the maritime environment sector, has been tasked with removing floating garbage and deposition waste; monitoring and managing the maritime environment; preserving and protecting the maritime ecosystem, eliminating and treating pollutants; preventing maritime pollution and responding; maritime environment education and R&D; and implementing international collaboration projects.

KOEM is responsible for the whole cycle of maritime garbage management, ranging from prevention to removal and reutilization, via the Maritime Waste Management Center in cooperation with the government as well as promoting public awareness.

KOEM monitors the seasonal garbage situation at 60 maritime points, and it has so far removed and treated a combined 187,025 tons of maritime waste since 1998.

Korea Marine Environment Management Corp. removes marine deposition waste. (Photos: KOEM)

KOEM is also exploring ways of reutilizing maritime plastics. Lock & Lock and TerraCycle, a glob al recycling company, conducted the “Love For Planet” campaign last year in which benches, upcycled with maritime plastic waste collected by KOEM, were produced and installed along the Jeju Olle Trail.

The “Adopt–a-beach” system, a step to attend coastal areas, has been introduced. A pilot project, which was conducted at three coastal areas of Jeju Island, has been expanded to cover Incheon, Gyeongsangnam-do and Chungcheongnam-do. Eleven companies are participating in the project.

KOEM is spearheading efforts to improve public awareness of healthy maritime environments. The Maritime Environment Educational Institute, which was opened in 2017, offers diverse educational programs.

KOEM has been monitoring 39 radioactive substance spots to ease public misgivings over maritime pollution caused by the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Maritime pollution monitoring manpower and equipment are expected to be reinforced this year to see whether maritime environment is polluted with radioactive substances in a quick fashion.

KOEM has been conducting efforts to remove remnant oil of sank ships. The corporation plans to ramp up its capabilities to cope with maritime pollution accidents by operating a 5,000-ton, multi-purpose anti-disaster ship from 2022.

The corporation has been studying on the blue carbon situation since 2017 to realize maritime carbon neutrality.

KOEM is contributing to expanding renewable energies by providing support to explore wind power farm site candidates to provide green energy, one of the 10 Korean New Deal projects.

KOEM conducted an organizational reshuffle on July 1 in accordance with its new vision of becoming a public maritime environment platform leader specializing in preserving and utilizing oceans.

The corporation is making every effort to be a public entity beloved by people based on four core values: Expertise capabilities, attaching priority on safety, open innovation, and collaborative growth.

In his message at KOEM’s website, KOEM CEO Han Ki-jun said “KOEM has dedicated over 20 years to preserving and protecting our ocean on behalf of all those who sincerely care for the wellbeing of the ocean.

As the only marine environment management organization in Korea, KOEM implements various projects such as disposing marine litter, restoring the marine ecosystem, designating and managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), responding to oil spills, and operating the Marine Environment Research and Training Institute.”