Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)

As Korea’s unique government-funded Geoscience research organization, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) has contributed to resolving public safety issues as well as to national developments since our foundation as the Geological Survey of Korea in 1918. KIGAM's main mission is to contribute to sustainable national development through research on 1) land and ocean geological surveys, 2) exploration, development and utilization of underground resources, and 3) new technology about geo-hazards and global climate change. The total number of full-time employees at KIGAM is about 510, of which about 320 are researchers, and KIGAM's annual budget is approximately KRW 200 billion, consisting of KRW 110 billion from government funding and KRW 90 billion from its own project activities (as of 2023).

KIGAM is the only Korean institute that fully integrates the breadth of academic disciplines and education professionals for tomorrow's geological challenges. International School for Geoscience Resources (IS-Geo) in KIGAM has educated global trainees through outreach - more than 69 countries and 184 geology training courses since 2010. KIGAM particularly provided 57 training courses with diverse geological disciplines, such as mineral mapping, exploration, CCS, geohazards, and groundwater to the ASEAN countries. In addition, as part of its cooperation with ASEAN on critical minerals, KIGAM recently signed an MOU with the Viet Nam Geological Department (VGD), the Geological Agency of Indonesia (GAI), and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to conduct joint research activities related to critical minerals. To address Net Zero 2050 challenges, KIGAM is carrying out various research projects concerning critical minerals and preparing for a research program that provides timely, integrated solutions for critical minerals by filling the pipeline with an exploration-ready and mineral-professional workforce.

For further information about CCOP: www.kigam.re.kr