The 1st CNU Fisheries and Oceans Grand Prize which CNU established was awarded to CNU Professor Ahn Gin-nae (Department of Marine Biofood) and the Shilla Culture Scholarship Foundation.

CNU’s College of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs established the CNU Fisheries and Oceans Awards to encourage faculty members for research and education and local community cooperation and participation by rewarding them and external personnel who have contributed to the development of the CNU College of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, such as through excellent research and education activities in the field of maritime affairs and fisheries, attracting excellent new students and increasing the employment rate. In addition to the CNU President's Award, the winners will receive a cash prize of 1 million KRW each.

Professor Ahn discovered biomaterials derived from marine biological resources and received good reviews for research on the improvement of sensitive skin diseases and immune-related diseases, which are environmental diseases that are recently becoming an issue. In addition, scholarly achievement of Professor Ahn include 118 domestic and foreign research papers, 55 patent registrations and applications, and one technology transfer, etc. which have been considered excellent contribution to research and education in the field of maritime affairs and fisheries. 

Since 2007, the Shilla Culture Scholarship Foundation has been continuously providing scholarships to 134 students at CNU's College of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

At the awards ceremony held at 2 pm on September 13 at CNU’s Yeosu Campus, President Jung said, “The College of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs is in a leading position in the research field. We are grateful to those scholars who have pioneered research and education.”

Previously, Professor Ahn was awarded the Young Scientist Special Award at the 3rd King Munmu the Great Ocean Awards hosted by Gyeongsangbuk Province and Gyeongju City in July.