The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) announced that senior researcher Kang Do-hyung, director of the KIOST Jeju Research Institute, took office as the 11th president of KIOST on Feb. 1. His term is four years, lasting until Jan. 31, 2027.
Kang graduated from the Department of Oceanography at Inha University in 1997 and obtained a master’s and doctoral degree in marine biology from Jeju National University.
After joining the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute (KORDI) (predecessor of KIOST) in 2006, he served in several major positions, notably director of the Jeju Marine Research Center and director of the Jeju Research Institute, among others.
His main fields of research are marine biology and microalgae, and his research results have been transferred to and are being used by related companies.
Since 2009, he has served as a professor at the University of Science and Technology (UST).
He has been actively engaged outside of academia as well, serving as general affairs director of Korea Bio and a member of the Jeju Regional Innovation Council.
KIOST President Kang will serve as president of KIOST for four years from February 1, 2023, in accordance with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology Act.
Regarding his new position, he commented, “As KIOST celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, I will do my best to ensure that it leads the development of marine science and technology and becomes an institution beloved by the people by creating economic and social value.”
KIOST Discovers New Species of Dinoflagellate with Potential Use as Marine Biomaterial
The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology has discovered a new species of dinoflagellate in the waters of Geomundo Island.
The discovery was published in the International Journal of Ornithology (Phycologia). They named it ‘Gonyaulax geomunensis’, after the island.
Dr. Shin Hyeon-ho’s research team at the KIOST South Sea Research Institute’s Library of Marine Samples has been conducting research on the phylogenetic classification and biomass of marine phytoplankton in Korean waters, with the aim of discovering useful materials based on physiologically-active substances in marine phytoplankton.
In 2021, his research team discovered plankton that produces ciguatoxin in the waters of Jeju Island, which they named Fukuyoa Koreansis after their country’s name.
This time, however, they discovered a new species of the genus Gonyaulax that produce yessotoxin, which they named after the island where it was discovered.
Geomundo Ciguatoxin is a type of neurotoxin produced by dinoflagellates, which causes nerve cell activation and convulsions and is known to induce diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, among other symptoms, and in severe cases, death when ingested by humans.
Yessotoxin is a toxin that was first discovered in the digestive glands of Japanese scallops in 1986. When human’s ingest shellfish contaminated by this poison, it causes symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Recently, it has been found to adversely affect the liver, pancreas, and heart muscle.
The new species, Gonyaulax geomunensis, was discovered by the research team while they were participating in a joint excavation of marine life resources conducted by the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea.
It is currently preserved and managed at the KIOST South Sea Research Institute, which has been designated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) as an institution responsible for registering and preserving samples of marine plants and plankton.
The Korean government announced its vision to foster the marine biotech industry at the National Oceans Day event in May 2022, which was followed by an announcement by the MOF on the establishment of the New Growth Strategy for the Marine Biotech Industry in July the same year.
Along with the growing marine biotech market, active research is underway on marine bioresources containing substances, such as toxins, that can be used as pharmaceutical materials, and the importance of the management and utilization of marine bioresources is being increasingly recognized worldwide with the validation of the Nagoya Protocol.
The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement stipulating that the use of foreign genetic resources requires prior approval from the country providing the resources and the sharing of profits generated from the use of such resources. It was effective from October 2014.
KIOST Senior Researcher Dr. Shin said, “We have completed the evaluation of the cultivation potential of Gonyaulax geomunensis and are carrying out an evaluation on the feasibility and utility of the production of the toxin for industrial use through joint research with Dr. Li Zhun’s research team at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology.”
Shin added, “We will continue doing our best to strengthen the competitiveness of the Korean Biotech industry.”
“This is a significant accomplishment as it not only promotes the uniqueness of Korea’s geographical names to the world, but also contributes to securing national biological sovereignty following the validation of the Nagoya Protocol,” added KIOST President Kim Woong-seo.
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