South Korea automates 9-step ocean data processing with AI at the push of a button

A nine-step manual process for handling ocean observation data — including sea temperature and salinity readings — will be replaced by a single button press, thanks to AI-powered automation that also detects errors in marine science survey data submitted by 25 institutions.

The Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Wednesday that it had developed two programs by drawing on the AI and digital skills of youth interns: a sea temperature and salinity data processing simplification program, and a marine science survey data catalog management program.

The temperature and salinity processing program consolidates what had been a nine-step manual workflow into a single automated operation triggered by one button. The key benefit, the agency said, is reducing repetitive tasks so the latest observation data can reach the public more quickly.

The automatically processed temperature and salinity data will be made available through the agency's Badanuri ocean information service.

The automation program will also be applied to marine science survey data management. It automatically compares and checks the catalog of marine science survey data from 25 industry, academic and research institutions that the agency provides, and flags any errors. The agency said this will allow researchers and the public to access more accurate ocean information through its open-data platform Gaebanghe.

The programs were developed by youth interns Kim Nam-hee and Choi Min-seo, who work at the agency's Marine Science Survey Research Division. The two interns built the programs using what is known as "vibe coding" — writing code through a back-and-forth conversation with a generative AI.

Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency Director Jang Myo-in said the agency would continue to improve the efficiency of its ocean survey operations and deliver better ocean information services to the public. "I am pleased that the youth intern program has gone beyond simple administrative experience to become an opportunity for mutual growth, where young people's fresh perspectives and AI capabilities meet national ocean survey work," Jang said.