Korean polar research marks 30th anniversary with time capsule
King Sejong Station on King George Island, Antarctica, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. / Korea Times file
By Ko Dong-hwan
A Marine Industry Policy Bureau official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries speaks about King Sejong Station's achievements over the past 30 years, at the ministry's office in the Sejong Government Complex, Jan. 22. / Yonhap
South Korea’s polar research program has its 30th anniversary on Feb. 17 but staff at the isolated Antarctic station started early celebrations on Tuesday.
Those based at the King Sejong Station on King George Island put commemorative items into a time capsule that will be unearthed in 70 years. Oceans and fisheries minister Kim Young-choon also flew from Seoul for a special award presentation.
The station is over 17,000 kilometers from Seoul and has 11 buildings and two observatories. Chief scientist Ahn In-young is in charge.
Kim conferred honors on those who had worked at the station and also presented awards to researchers from Russia and Chile whose research stations are nearby.
Items placed in the 30-centimeter diameter stainless steel canister included congratulatory video messages from South Korean President Moon Jae-in, students, ministers and polar researchers, and articles that represent researchers’ 30 years of achievement.
King Sejong Station now has 100 staff. It started with 13 in 1988.
Korean researchers collaborate with other institutes in Antarctica and the rest of the world by participating in, monitoring and contributing to the World Meteorological Organization, the Global Sea-level Observing System, the International Seismological Center and the Intermagnet Project.
The station receives regular supplies from the RV Araon that was commissioned in 2009. The icebreaker also supplies Jang Bogo Station, the second base of the South Korean Antarctic research mission, built in 2014.