Cho Eun-ki, the first director of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences who established Korea as a global "seed powerhouse" and laid a solid foundation for future food security, passed away on the 24th of last month at the age of 71, marking the loss of a great figure in the agricultural community.

The deceased was recognized as a key figure who led South Korea to become a "seed powerhouse." Born in Yeongyang, Gyeongbuk, he spearheaded the establishment of the National Institute of Agricultural Genetics in 2005 while serving as the head of the Research and Development Bureau of the Rural Development Administration. The institute was officially established in November 2006 with newly constructed storage facilities in Suwon and Jeonju.

The deceased revolutionized seed preservation technology through the establishment of the institute. Going beyond the existing room temperature storage method (30 years), he established storage methods at 4 degrees above zero (50 years) and minus 18 degrees (100 years). In particular, he devoted himself to research on ultra-low temperature preservation technology at minus 196 degrees for special crop preservation such as garlic sprouts, elevating Korea's seed preservation capabilities to a new level.

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As a result of these efforts, the National Institute of Agricultural Genetics was designated as a "Global Seed Vault for Backup Preservation" by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2008, one of only two in the world along with Norway, enhancing Korea's global standing.

The deceased served as the first director of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences from 2008 to 2009 during the Lee Myung-bak administration, dedicating himself to the advancement of agricultural technology. In particular, on the 22nd of last month, he launched "Cho Eun-ki TV," a YouTube channel on farm management, demonstrating his passionate commitment to agriculture until two days before his passing, leaving a profound impact on the agricultural community.

Sung Je-hun, the current director of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, paid tribute to the deceased, honoring his achievements as "a world-renowned seed preservation expert and a person who established the framework for our country's food seed management." The innovative seed preservation technologies and systems that the deceased dedicated his life to developing will serve as a key driving force in firmly protecting the future of "seed powerhouse" Korea amid climate change and food security threats. His vision and passion are expected to continue through future generations and contribute eternally to the development of Korean agriculture.