In early February 2026 (2–4 February), United Nations Environment Programme / Northwest Pacific Action Plan (UNEP/NOWPAP) undertook a high-level mission to the Republic of Korea (ROK), reaffirming Korea’s key role in advancing regional and global ocean governance through the NOWPAP. The mission also marked the formal introduction of UNEP’s Director of the Regional Seas Branch and the newly recruited staff of NOWPAP Regional Coordinating Unit (RCU) Busan Office to the key national counterparts.
High-level dialogue with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
A key highlight of the mission was the meeting and discussions with Mr. Jeongho SEO, Deputy Minister for Marine Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). The meeting brought together senior representatives from MOF, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM).
UNEP briefed counterparts on key signals from the current Global Environmental Agenda shaping ocean and environmental cooperation, including: takeaways from United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), progress on plastics treaty negotiations, the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and its expectations for regional cooperation, and the broader direction of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme. The discussion connected these global developments to practical implications for the Northwest Pacific, such as stronger regional coordination, join development of projects and activities related to BBNJ Agreement, and targeted capacity support that can be delivered through NOWPAP.
NOWPAP Coordinator, Dr. Yegor Volovik, updated the meeting participants on the current state of affairs in NOWPAP, including close consultations with the NOWPAP member States on the pathway
for updating and adopting a renewed Programme of Work (PoW) and Medium-Term Strategy ensuring continuity, practicality, and alignment with member states’ evolving priorities.
As a special focus of the discussion, UNEP welcomed Korea’s active role in at the global ocean-related arena and highlighted the importance of preparations toward the Fourth United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-4), to be hosted by the Republic of Korea in Busan in 2028, being a key milestone to showcase how regional mechanisms like NOWPAP translate global commitments under SDG 14 into concrete regional action.
The mission further recognized the importance and emphasized the value of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI), supported by Korea and led by the CBD Secretariat. The upcoming SOI coordination meeting in Seoul (June, 2026) was noted as a timely platform to strengthen linkages among the key players in Regional Ocean Governance, i.e., Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs), Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs), relevant UN organisations, as well as marine scientific institutions, and global policy players.
Engagement with national institutions
In addition to the MOF dialogue, the mission included technical and partnership discussions with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), and working exchanges with the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), and the Marine Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity Centre (MERRAC), exploring opportunities to strengthen science–policy cooperation, emergency preparedness, and regional implementation under NOWPAP. The mission got acquainted with featured ocean science and training facilities at KIOST, NIFS (including the NOWPAP Busan Office), and KRISO.
A shared commitment to partnership
Across several meetings in Busan and Daejeon, the mission highlighted a shared vision: a more proactive, visible, and impact-oriented NOWPAP, closely aligned with Korea’s national initiatives and global ocean priorities. UNEP/NOWPAP expressed appreciation for Korea’s long-standing partnership and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with MOF and national institutions to deliver a renewed PoW, contribute meaningfully to UNOC-4, and advance sustainable ocean action in the Northwest Pacific.
Together, UNEP and the Republic of Korea look forward to deepening this collaboration - strengthening regional cooperation today while shaping a resilient and sustainable ocean future for the years ahead.
