국립 부경대학교

'The story of a man who never went to the Colosseum even 12 times visiting of Rome'
On the life and work of PKNU Professor Lee Sang-go who has been awarded the Order of Service Merit.

Each has their life inflection point. It is moments when you develop or retreat yourself.
 

△ 이상고 교수. ⓒ사진 이성재(홍보팀)

Since his appointment as a professor at Pukyong National University in 1992, he has been to 25 countries all over the world for 27 years.

It was a business trip across Africa, South America, Southeast Asia and Europe. The number of flights using Korean Air reaches about 580,000.

Of the 600 professors at Pukyong University, he must be the one of the most active Professor who plays in the world stage.

What is Professor Lee doing so busy 'internationally'?

He is a government advisor to the International Conference on Fisheries.

Many countries have a vast ocean, and there are many international conferences on fisheries. Whaling Commission, FAO (Fisheries Commission for UN Food and Agriculture Organization), OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) fisheries committee and so on.

What kind of tools should be used to catch fish, what kind of cooperation should be made for the sustainability of marine resources, what should be done to protect the marine environment, and so on, fisheries are the area where many consultations between countries should be made.

So it means, he was the 'English Proficient' of the fisheries side. He is a fishery expert and a fluent English speaker.

Professor Lee commented on his mission, "The international conferences have specific agendas, and the representatives of the Korean government who attend them are approved by the government before attending the meeting to discuss what to say about the agenda. That is the government directive. The main things are to consult with the relevant public officials to set up a government instruction, to speak at the meeting, to listen to the meeting and report it to the government."

"In the case of government officials, there is frequent assignment transferring. However, continuity is important in international conferences. As I participated in many international conferences, I seem to have continued to participate in the meetings. It is the case of once became twice, twice became three and four times."


△ Professor Lee Sang-go (middle) attending the international seminar.

What led him to this particular path in his life?

Ulsan was the hometown and he entered the Department of Resource Economics at Pukyong National University, formerly Busan National Fisheries University, in 1977. He enrolled in the military after finishing the first semester of the first grade. But military enlistment was a turning point in his life.

He was good at mathematics, and he was recognized for his mathematical talents, he was given the command of 'shooting command' and enlisted in the Gwangju artillery school. His mission was to translate American artillery doctrine into Korean. The translating mission for three years, which had to be unconditional, even if he could not speak English, naturally gave him an engine of English.

Professor Kometini of the University of Hawaii became a visiting professor in the Department of Resources Economics when Mr.Lee returning from military service. He was confident in English, and he was selected as an assistant professor for Professor Kometini. As a result of his recommendation, Professor Lee went to study in the United States.

However, at that time, there were few Korean who earned a Ph.D. in fisheries from the United States, not Japan.

The scarcity value of 'English + fisheries expert' led him to today.

For this reason, Professor Lee is active in external activities. In Pukyong National University, he served as a marine museum manager and general human development director, and his career outside is more spectacular. He has about 10 roles in relation to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. He has been co-chaired by the Korea Overseas Fisheries Association under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), and a member of the Fisheries Policy Advisory Committee, and so on. He also served as a private advisory committee for trade negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFG), vice chairman of the FAO Fisheries Committee, and vice chairman of the OECD Fisheries Committee.

He has been serving as a director of the International Fisheries Cooperation Center in Pukyong National University since 2007. During his service, 652 aquaculture officials from 44 nations over the world were trained in fisheries at this center and returned to their homeland. He explained this achievement in this way.

"Since Pukyong National University started this program, an enormous international network has been created. Usually, once they come, they usually stay in a guest house in Pukyong University's Mirae Building vary from a month to two years. How many countries are supported in international conferences is important, and they are precious friends who support the opinions of our country. I feel rewarded when they recognize me and support my country at an international conference place in unfamiliar land."


△ Fishery training program at overseas fishery center. The second on the left side of the front row is Professor Lee Sang-go.

But those who are close to him may be a little bit puzzled. He is a man who knows nothing but work.

Having been leading the world 's first FAO-affiliated World Fisheries University of Pukyong, he often went to Rome, where he recently held the FAO Secretariat. When he was vice-chairman of the FAO Fisheries Committee, he went only Rome 10 times a year. But he is a man who has not been able to go near the Colosseum in Rome.

He also led the establishment of the Fisheries University of Pukyong in the Solomon Islands, where he stayed there throughout the summer vacation but he was the one who had not been able to stand on the beautiful shores of Solomon.

A hamburger is a food that shows a cross section of his personality. He and his colleagues at the World Fisheries Graduate School, where he was assigned, likes to have a hamburger meeting. "Because you can have a meeting if you eat a hamburger," he said. He does the work that is pushed at the time of the small meal with hamburger, or studies which he was not able to do during his work time.

Time splitting has become a habit in the U.S. doctoral life.

He said, "Since I was a research assistant at that time, I did not have enough time to support the professor's research and to study together. So for me, Saturday and Sunday were a very important time to do the pushed works or tasks. This habit has become a lifelong habit and I have never been home on weekend. Saturday Sunday is always in the lab except holidays like Lunar New Year's Day or Thanksgiving Day. At this time, I conduct research services, and prepare for lectures or international conferences. The amount of work done on Saturday and Sunday is more than from Monday to Friday."

"I have neglected my home except work. I am not a good husband or a good father." What is the reward of life for him who confessed honestly?

"I think living hard is what contributes to society. Not involved in money, take things on the chin and living my life. It is a joy of life and rewarding." he said, "I sometimes find the joy of life in the fun of work."

"Small things often change life a lot. I think it is important for me to do my best in everything not to miss even a small thing." It seemed to be the attitude of his life.

I was curious about his story about English studying at this point.

Professor Lee said, "English is a tool for getting information. Most of the information is in English. So if you do not break through it, you cannot easily reach that information."


△ Professor Lee Sang-go (second from the right) is holding a meeting with President Vanuatu at the expert meeting held to promote the fisheries industry in the island of Vanuatu in the South Pacific.

What is his English study tip for juniors / disciples?

"When you read English, do not understand it in Korean. Understand English in English itself. You must take the habit of thinking and speaking English. The contents of English should also be stored in English. You should get away from the habit of storing what you see in English in Korean. English should be understood in English and saved in English. You should say things you know that you know in Korean. Do not save it on USB for Korean, but on English USB. This should be a habit."
 
What are some more useful tips? "You need to know a lot about the content of your favorite field in English."

What is his advice for the development of Busan, as a fishery policy expert?
 
He said, "Busan's fisheries policy is focused on processing and distribution only. It is necessary to develop the present deep-sea fishery in accordance with the times and to "industrialize the ocean".

The ocean industry means that processing, distribution, and aquaculture as well as fisheries are performed in the ocean. He emphasized that "Ocean industrialization is a very important catalyst for Busan's internationalization." <Pukyong Today>