The national government will decide by the end of the week which of three candidate sites in the country will be proposed as Korea’s bid to host a World Fisheries University, under the auspices of the United Nations-affiliated Food and Agricultural Organization. Inspectors have already toured Jeju’s proposed site. Joseph Kim has more.

[SLUG]
Former campus of Tamna University

An on-site inspection has been carried out for selecting a site for the World Fisheries University.

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On-site inspection for FAO World Fisheries University bid

Including representatives from the Korea Maritime Institute, around 10 agents from an evaluation committee visited Tamna University, where the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province proposed as the location for the fisheries university.

Showing an enthusiastic attitude and planning to provide support of 3 billion won annually, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province earned positive reviews from the evaluation group.

However, the evaluation committee raised the issues of how a school that had been closed can be the location of the World Fisheries University, and since the campus is located in the mountainous area, access to other organizations like Jeju National University can be difficult.


Assessor 1
The Korean government should impress the FAO, but if Jeju is selected, we will say that we are going to establish the World Fisheries University in a closed school. It seems like a tough sell.
"한국 정부가 FAO를 설득해야 하는데 제주가 선정될 경우 폐교에다가
메카를 만들겠다 이렇게 나가야 되거든요. 이게 참 어려운 상황입니다."


Assessor 2
It would be helpful for us if Jeju could demonstrate how the establishment of the university here would improve the fisheries sector.
"제주가 수산대학을 유치하면서 수산업의 혁신 플랫폼으로 갈 수 있는
역량이 있느냐 자격이 있느냐를 한 번 설득력 있게 보여주시면
이해하는데 도움이 되겠습니다."

Governor Won Hee-ryong emphasized that establishing the university in Jeju will create a synergy effect since Jeju already has an industrial base in farming and fisheries technology.


Won Hee-ryong / Governor
The fisheries industry should not remain at its current level - it should be upgraded to an international and future-oriented one. We will take this opportunity to begin to invest and work in earnest on improving fisheries infrastructure.
"수산업의 발전과 그 발전을 제주에서 단순히 전통 어업 수산업을 하는
그런 정도가 아니라 이것을 국제적인 미래지향적인 것으로 가는
그리고 본격적으로 투자와 프로젝트를 기획해서 추진하는
그런 계기로 저희들이 삼을 생각입니다."

The goal of the World Fisheries University is to help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by promoting their fisheries industry. The curricula will include sea farming skills, ocean resource management, and fisheries policies. The school will be accepting students for master’s and doctorate courses from developing countries and train around 100 students a year.

Alongside Jeju, Chungnam and Busan have also expressed their desire to open a University.

[REPORTER]
Joseph Kim

[CAMERA]
Kim Seung-cheol

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will select the candidate location which will then be evaluated by 190 countries at the FAO general meeting in July 2017.

After the on-site evaluation, the candidate location is expected to be announced on February 19th.

Joseph Kim KCTV