Busan, Republic of Korea – 11 March 2026 — Representatives of the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) Busan Office paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Kwon Soon Wook, the newly appointed President of the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS). NIFS is a long-term partner of NOWPAP and the host institution of the Busan Office of the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU).
During the visit, Ms. Yan Chang, NOWPAP Programme Officer, and Ms. Hyojin Kim, NOWPAP Team Assistant, both based in the Busan Office of the RCU, congratulated President Kwon on his appointment and briefly introduced NOWPAP’s work.
President Kwon, who assumed office in February 2026, warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed his appreciation for the longstanding cooperation between NIFS and NOWPAP. He also conveyed interest in strengthening collaboration in the future, particularly on issues related to the marine environment and regional cooperation.
NIFS has hosted the NOWPAP Busan Office since 2005 under the Host Country Agreement (HCA) between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This arrangement has supported close institutional cooperation and provided an important platform for advancing NOWPAP activities in the Northwest Pacific region.
During the meeting, the Busan Office staff presented the mandate of NOWPAP under UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme and outlined its main areas of work, including marine pollution monitoring, biodiversity conservation, marine litter management, and regional environmental cooperation. They also outlined NOWPAP’s institutional structure, noting that it brings together four Member States: China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation.
NOWPAP ensures the regional reach of its mandate through four Regional Activity Centres (RACs), a formal Working Group on Marine Litter, and coordinated activities aimed at protecting the marine and coastal environment of the Northwest Pacific.
Future Cooperation
As the Republic of Korea’s leading national institution in fisheries science and marine research, NIFS plays an important role in advancing ocean science, methods, and tools for the sustainable management of marine living resources. President Kwon noted that NIFS looks forward to exploring further opportunities for collaboration with NOWPAP, particularly in marine environmental protection and scientific cooperation.
The courtesy visit also provided an opportunity for the NOWPAP RCU Busan Office staff to introduce the RCU’s small team and reaffirm their commitment to strengthening cooperation with Korean partner institutions.
