Professor Choi Yong-sang Receives Ministerial Commendation on World Meteorological Day N
- Date2026.04.07
- 215
Recognized for Contributions to Climate Disaster Early Warning Systems and Domestic Climate Risk Management Framework
Professor Choi Yong-sang of the Department of Climate and Energy Systems Engineering has been awarded a Ministerial Commendation from the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of meteorological services, on the occasion of World Meteorological Day 2026.
Professor Choi was recognized for developing a climate disaster early warning system using satellite data, thereby strengthening disaster response capabilities in developing countries. He was also credited with establishing methodologies for assessing and managing climate risks in Korea, contributing to the development of climate risk response systems across industries and the financial sector.
This year’s World Meteorological Day theme was “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow,” emphasizing the importance of meteorological and climate data observation in safeguarding people around the world from weather-related disasters and the climate crisis.
To enable proactive disaster response, Professor Choi developed a satellite-based early warning system. By utilizing satellite observation data, the system can identify climate risks such as heavy rainfall and flooding in advance and deliver this information to local communities in developing countries, helping residents respond quickly. This technology has been implemented in over ten countries across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Pacific island nations, significantly enhancing disaster response capabilities in climate-vulnerable regions.
In addition, from 2021 to 2023, Professor Choi served as the principal investigator leading the development of the international climate risk management model “Frontier-1.5D,” a collaborative project involving the Financial Supervisory Service, major domestic corporations, and the British Embassy in Korea. This work laid the foundation for companies and financial institutions to predict and respond to economic losses caused by climate change, making a substantial contribution to the advancement of Korea’s climate risk management systems and policies.
Currently serving as Director of the Office of Future Strategy, Professor Choi also holds positions as Director of the Climate and Environmental Change Prediction Research Center and CEO of RainbirdGeo, a climate tech startup founded as the College of Engineering’s first faculty venture.
Professor Choi stated, “I am honored to have my efforts in building systems for proactive climate change response recognized,” adding, “I will continue to strengthen climate risk management frameworks that connect academia, industry, and government, and contribute to enhancing the resilience of our society in the era of climate crisis.”
Meanwhile, World Meteorological Day was established to commemorate the founding of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on March 23, 1950. Each year, the WMO selects a theme reflecting key global issues in the climate crisis era to raise awareness and deliver messages related to weather and climate.