Establishment and Operation

Background and Purpose

Organization

• The Chairman can separate and operate the committee in order to establish geographical names and marine geographical names if necessary.
• Geographical name (under the National Geographic Information Institute)
  • Vice Chairman : 1 person, Director General of the National Geographic Information Institute
  • 9 members : Appointed pursuant to Article 87, Clause 3, No. 1 to 5 of the Enforcement Decree of “Act on Land Survey, Waterway Survey and Cadastral Records”
  • Within 9 professional members : Appointed pursuant to Article 87, Clause 3, No. 6 of the Enforcement Decree of “Act on Land Survey, Waterway Survey and Cadastral Records”
• Marine geographical names (under KHOA)
  • Vice Chairman: 1 person, Director General of KHOA)
  • 9 members : Appointed pursuant to Article 87, Clause 3, No. 1 to 5 of the Enforcement Decree of “Act on Land Survey, Waterway Survey and Cadastral Records”
  • Within 9 professional members : Appointed pursuant to Article 87, Clause 3, No. 6 of the Enforcement Decree of “Act on Land Survey, Waterway Survey and Cadastral Records”

KHOA Functions Relevant to Marine Geographical Names

• Establish and change marine geographical names.
• Research, study, overhaul marine geographical names and make plans for them.
• Perform international exchanges and cooperation on the research, studies and recognition of marine geographical names.
• Requirements needed to develop research and technology related to marine geographical names.

Flow Chart to Standardize Domestic Marine Geographical Names

Definition and Classification of Marine Geographical Names

Definition

Marine geographical names cover name of naturally formed oceans, straits, bays, creeks and watercourses, as well as of submarine topographical features such as a reef, a bank, a submarine canyon, a basin, a seamount, a seamount chain, an oceanic ridge, and a trench (under Article 2 of the Waterway Service Act.)

Classification

According to the Guideline for Standardization of Marine Geographical Names, marine geographical names are largely divided into sea surface and undersea features names.

• Sea surface names

The sea surface names are related to terrains on the sea level, such as oceans, straits, bays, creeks, and watercourses.

• Type and Classification

• Undersea features names

The undersea features names are divided into 42 categories, including features such as reefs, banks, canyons, basins, and seamounts.
* The undersea features names written in the IHO/IOC Gazetteer are divided into 53 categories; that is to say that 11 names are irrelevant to our submarine geographical names.

Future Plans

Domestic Standardization of Marine Geographical Names

The project for the standardization of marine geographical names continues to be performed pursuant to the “Guideline for the Standardization of Marine Geographical Names”.

• Establish new marine geographical names
  Analyze and review relevant data on bottom topography (seamounts, basins, etc.), reefs, and rocks, among others without names and then establish new names.
• Propel the data base of marine geographical names
  Compile and systematically manage the database of marine geographical names through forging marine geographical name management systems, and then provide users with the data on the Internet.
• Strengthen promotion
  Aggressively enhance the promotion so that the entire people can use the standardized Korean marine geographical names.

International Standardization of Marine Geographical Names

• Corroborate data on marine geographical names for international standardization to organizations related to marine geographical names, such as the United Nations Conferences on the Standardization of Geographical Names (UNCSGN), the International Hydrographic Organization, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and so forth.
• Move forward with correcting errors in marking ocean features
  Bolster international awareness about the wrong use of marine geographical names on maps and nautical charts published nowadays in some countries, and with respect to the different names in the same seas between neighboring countries, actively propel markings in accordance with the principle of the international standardization of marine geographical names.

Forward International Exchanges and Cooperation Regarding Marine Geographical Names

Understand international trends and aim at human interchange by steadily attending international conferences, such as UN and IHO/IOC led conventions, regarding marine geographical names.

Represent Korean stance along with PR activities for marine geographical names by presenting our opinions at every international conference and developing global collaboration.

Support Internal and External Research Regarding Marine Geographical Names

Support research activities with regard to marine geographical names, including holding academic meetings and seminars.
Attract international conferences related to marine geographical names and actively support related meetings.

Receive established and changed marine geographical names and collect data.

Some of marine geographical names currently used in Korea are not consistent, that is, they are named differently by different entities. This can give rise to problems with communication and interests between users. Thus, the standardization of marine geographical names is of great importance.

If you have found new information, or some marine geographical names used differently or left out from nautical charts and ocean passage pilots, please fill out an application form for review and submit it to the Korea Committee on Marine Geographical Names. Furthermore, if you provide bibliographies, including historical documents, nautical charts, and maps, related to marine geographical names, it will be very helpful in standardizing marine geographical names.

Korea Committee on Marine Geographical Names Contact Information

• Tel. 051-400-4341~43 / Fax. 051-400-4349
• e-mail : infokhoa@korea.kr

Documents related to the Korea Committee on Marine Geographical Names
(download the attachment)

Documents related to the Korea Committee on Marine Geographical Names (download the attachment)

Detailed Rules on the Operation of the Korea Committee on Marine Geographical Names
Application Form for Review of Marine Geographical Names
Guideline for the Standardization of Marine Geographical Names
Notice of Marine Geographical Names (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries 2002 - 2005 Data)
Notice of Marine Geographical Names (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Vol. No. 2006 – 2005, 29/12/2006)
Notice of Marine Geographical Names (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Vol. No. 2007-83)
Notice of Marine Geographical Names (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Vol. No. 2007-161)
Establishment of Marine Geographical Names (Former Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs No. 13)
Establishment of Marine Geographical Names (Former Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs No. 2008-705)
Establishment of Marine Geographical Names (Former Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs No.2009-1313)
Establishment of Marine Geographical Names (Former Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs No.2010-1012)
Notice of Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration No.2012-1
Notice of Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration No.2012-5
Notice of Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration No.2012-11
Notice of Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration No.2013-6