Mokpo National University, 'The Dream Ocean Idea Competition'

Various Ideas in Response to Environmental Changes
Joint Program Operation Among National Universities

National Mokpo University (President Song Ha-cheol) announced on the 18th that it held the ‘5th The Dream Ocean Idea Competition’ for the revitalization of marine and fisheries industries at the Mokpo Shinan Beach Hotel over three days from the 14th to the 16th.

The competition involved four national universities (National Mokpo University, National Changwon University, National Mokpo Maritime University, and Jeju University), with a total of 60 students participating?15 from each university?engaging in a heated contest.

Students participating in the 5th The Dream Ocean Idea Competition are taking a group photo. Photo by Mokpo National University

Now in its fifth year, ‘The Dream Ocean Idea Competition’ is a joint program hosted annually on a rotating basis by the four national universities. It aims to play a key role in creating future value through cooperation among national universities and to carry out ESG ideas in the marine and fisheries sector through team projects.

Participating students had a meaningful time concretizing their ideas by creating prototypes through design thinking.

As a result of the judging, Team 10, the ‘Trump Team,’ consisting of students Hwang Da-hye (Mokpo University), Kim Eun-ho (Changwon University), Kim Min-seok and Yang Jun-ho (Mokpo Maritime University), and Choi In-young (Jeju University), won the grand prize.

They presented a novel idea using the blue carbon method to prevent desertification of the sea, focusing on the restoration of underwater forests, which was evaluated as innovative and highly feasible.

Kang Min-jung, Director of Planning at Mokpo University, said, “It was a meaningful time as various and good ideas emerged through the joint program among national universities centered on marine and fisheries fields in response to environmental changes. I hope it helped expand exchanges and networks among students from each university.”

Meanwhile, the 6th The Dream Ocean Idea Competition in 2025 is scheduled to be hosted by National Changwon University.