The chief of South Korea's weather agency has been elected executive council member of a U.N. organization overseeing weather and climate issues, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Ko Yun-hwa, head of the Korea Meteorological Administration, was chosen to serve a four-year term as a regional representative on the executive council of the World Meteorological Organization during the WMO's ongoing congress in Geneva on Thursday, the ministry said in a joint press release with the KMA.

South Korea, which joined the WMO in 1956, has held the post since 2007.

"By retaining membership on the WMO executive council, I will strengthen our leadership on the global stage, expand our support for developing nations on weather and climate issues, actively participate in policy decisions in the weather sphere, and do my best to contribute to the development and advancement of the international weather community," Ko said in the press release.

The council, which handles the WMO's budget and coordinates its projects, is comprised of 37 representatives from the 191 member states. The congress also elected China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, India and Qatar as the other Asian regional representatives. (Yonhap)