KIOST Senior Researcher Hong Sang-hee Receives Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Award at the Marine Science and Technology Awards

The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (Acting Director Lee Hee-seung, KIOST) announced that Hong Sang-hee, Principal Researcher of the Ecological Risk Research Division at KIOST, received the ‘Excellence in Academic Research Award,’ the highest honor in the academic category, at the ‘2023 Marine Science and Technology Awards’ ceremony held during the ‘2023 Marine Science and Technology Week,’ hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and organized by the Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion (Director Oh Un-yeol).

Principal Researcher Hong Sang-hee was the first in Korea to initiate research on marine microplastic pollution and has conducted studies to identify the pollution status, ecosystem impacts, and risks of marine microplastics. Her related research results have been recognized as playing a crucial role in domestic and international policy-making and raising public awareness, leading to her selection as the recipient of this ministerial award.

Senior Researcher Sanghee Hong, Ecological Risk Research Division, KIOST.

Now in its ninth year, the ‘Marine Science and Technology Awards’ is the highest honor given to outstanding researchers and institutions contributing to the advancement of science and technology in the marine and fisheries fields. The award ceremony was held on the 19th at COEX in Seoul during the opening ceremony of the ‘2023 Marine Science and Technology Week (Ocean Inno Week).’

Principal Researcher Hong Sang-hee graduated from Ewha Womans University with a degree in Life Sciences in 1994 and earned her Ph.D. from the same university in 2002. She joined the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, the predecessor of KIOST, in 2008 and has been researching marine pollution at the Namhae Research Institute’s Ecological Risk Research Division. Over the past decade, she has conducted studies clarifying the impact and behavior of plastics entering the ocean on marine ecosystems, publishing over 50 papers in SCI-level international journals in the field of marine microplastics. In 2018, she was recognized among the top 100 outstanding national research and development achievements by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Notably, she was the first to raise the issue internationally regarding the impact of harmful substances (flame retardants) contained in expanded polystyrene (EPS, Styrofoam) marine debris on the marine environment. She also was the first in the world to demonstrate that plastic waste acts as a medium transporting and spreading plastic-containing chemicals (flame retardants, antioxidants, photostabilizers, etc.) over long distances and transferring them to marine organisms inhabiting coastal areas. This finding highlighted that plastics entering the ocean should be managed not as waste but as hazardous substances, providing scientific evidence that supported the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ policy decision to strengthen the comprehensive regulation of expanded polystyrene aquaculture buoys.

Principal Researcher Hong Sang-hee stated, “Marine pollution is a representative phenomenon of the Anthropocene and is not merely a subject of research but a practical academic field where science and policy must be closely linked to pursue feasible solutions.” She added, “As an ocean scientist, I want to communicate through research and contribute to the protection of the marine environment and ecosystems.”