The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST, President Kim Woong-seo) announced that, on May 24, it finalized the closing of its Ansan facility by removing the signboard from its former facility in Ansan City. KIOST relocated to its current location in a marine cluster in Dongsam-dong, Busan, in 2017 as part of the government’s plan to relocate public institutions to areas outside of Seoul.

KIOST’s facility in Ansan was built on a lot near the coast of Ansan in May 30, 1986. It was home to the Korean Ocean Development Research Institute (created in 1973), the predecessor of KIOST. Later, the Korea Ocean Development Research Institute was renamed to the Korea Ocean Research and Development of Institute in 1990, the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute in 2001, and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology in 2012. Ansan was a hub of ocean research where KIOST made many advancements and achievements in the field.

On April 3, 2020, KIOST signed an agreement with Ansan City to sell its old facility, and received the balance of the sale on May 24, 2021, completing the liquidation process. With this, KIOST paid off the bank loans it had borrowed to build its new facility in Busan, which had been a burden to the operation of the research institute, thus allowing it to stabilize its finances.
 
President Kim said, “Based on the ocean science and technology it had accumulated at its Ansan facility, KIOST is dedicated to achieving its vision to become the hub of ocean research in Northeast Asia and a leader in ocean science and technology globally.”