my timesThe Korea Times
  1. Business
  2. Tech & Science

Korea arrives at candidate site for Antarctic inland research station

Listen
By Baek Byung-yeul
  • Published KST
  • Updated KST
Members of the exploration team of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) pose after arriving at the candidate site for Korea's Antarctic inland station, Dec. 31, 2023. Courtesy of KOPRI

Members of the exploration team of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) pose after arriving at the candidate site for Korea's Antarctic inland station, Dec. 31, 2023. Courtesy of KOPRI

Nation to build world’s 6th inland station in Antarctica

Korea is on course to become the sixth country to build an inland scientific research base in Antarctica as its exploration team arrived at the candidate site for the research station, according to the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), Tuesday.

KOPRI said its exploration team, which is exploring the K-Route, a land route that Korea is pioneering for research and supply activities, arrived at the candidate site for the research station on Dec. 31, 2023.

Korea is pushing to build the sixth inland research station in Antarctica by 2032. Currently, the United States, Russia, China, Japan and a partnership of France and Italy operate stations there. The exploration team arrived at the candidate site 46 days after leaving the Jang Bogo Station, Korea’s second research station in Antarctica, on Nov. 16.

KOPRI's exploration team members install a weather observation tower at the candidate site for Korea's inland Antarctic station, in this photo provided by KOPRI, Tuesday. Courtesy of KOPRI

KOPRI's exploration team members install a weather observation tower at the candidate site for Korea's inland Antarctic station, in this photo provided by KOPRI, Tuesday. Courtesy of KOPRI

KOPRI said a land route is essential in the process of constructing and operating an Antarctic inland base, as there are weather and high-cost issues when supplying materials by airplane.

"The exploration team has secured a 1,512-kilometer land route connecting Jang Bogo Station and the candidate site for the Antarctic inland base through this exploration. We plan to pioneer an additional 270 kilometers of new routes on the way back to the base," KOPRI said.

As opening a new base in Antarctica requires international consensus, KOPRI said that the exploration team plans to conduct research activities such as collecting environmental samples and installing meteorological observation equipment for environmental impact assessments needed for constructing a base at the candidate site.

KOPRI's exploration team members depart from Jang Bogo Station in Antarctica to explore the candidate site for Korea's Antarctic inland station, Nov. 16, 2023. Courtesy of KOPRI

KOPRI's exploration team members depart from Jang Bogo Station in Antarctica to explore the candidate site for Korea's Antarctic inland station, Nov. 16, 2023. Courtesy of KOPRI

Korea currently has two Antarctic bases — King Sejong Station and Jang Bogo Station.

King Sejong Station, built in 1988, is located on King George Island. As it is located off the mainland of Antarctica, Korea opened a new base, Jang Bogo Station, on the Antarctic mainland coast in 2014.

By establishing its third base in the Antarctic interior, Korea plans to conduct research on responding to climate change and developing new technologies specialized for polar regions, aiming to foster new businesses that will be highlighted in the future.

"With the opening of the K-Route, the door to Antarctic inland research, which was only possible for a few advanced countries, has been opened wide," Shin Hyoung-chul, president of KOPRI, said. "Using the K-route, we will preempt research bases with high potential for future development, compete with advanced Antarctic research countries and elevate the polar research capabilities of the nation.”