1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning jointly announced on February 27 that Dr. Ha Jae-joo of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute had been appointed as head of the Nuclear Development Division of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA).

◦ The aforementioned appointment carries great significance as the first case where a national of the Republic of Korea has been appointed to a high-level post of the NEA since the ROK acceded to the organization in 1993.

◦ The OECD/NEA, an international body for nuclear cooperation led by developed countries, comprises 31 member states and such observers as the European Commission (EC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

2. Dr. Ha will officially serve as head of the Nuclear Development Division during the next three years starting from March 2015. The mandate of the head of the Nuclear Development Division includes overseeing nuclear development policies and economic analyses of nuclear energy.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning noted that although a number of ROK nationals had served as high-level officials at the IAEA, it marked the first time that an ROK national was appointed to a high-level post of the OECD/NEA, which is led by developed countries. They added that Dr. Ha is expected to contribute greatly to enhancing the ROK’s standing in international organizations and expanding its role in their activities. 


                 Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
                 Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning

* unofficial translation