Asia's First 'North Pole' Expedition Initiative... 280 Billion KRW Invested in New Icebreaker Development

Polar bear encountered in the Arctic. (Provided by Dr. Juhyung Min, Korea Polar Research Institute)

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The government is set to undertake the first Arctic Pole expedition among Asian countries. Through the development of a world-class next-generation icebreaker, it plans to lead international joint research on the high-latitude Arctic Ocean, which has been difficult to access until now. By 2030, it will establish the world's sixth inland Antarctic research station. The government aims to leap from being a 'follower' to a 'leader' in polar exploration through technological development and infrastructure expansion.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 22nd that it has finalized the '1st Basic Plan for the Promotion of Polar Activities,' which contains the future vision for polar activities, at the Cabinet meeting. This basic plan is the first statutory basic plan covering all aspects of polar activities, including scientific research encompassing both the Arctic and Antarctic, economic activities, international cooperation, and human resource development.

Starting in 2027, the government will initiate Asia's first international joint research and development in the Arctic Ocean, including the North Pole. Since changes in the polar environment directly affect the Earth's climate, the government aims to strengthen related research. To this end, it will invest 277.4 billion KRW to build a 15,000-ton next-generation icebreaking research vessel by 2026. This next-generation icebreaking research vessel can break through ice up to 1.5 meters thick at a speed of 3 knots (5.6 km/h), enabling it to access high-latitude Arctic waters above 80 degrees north latitude, which the existing 'Araon' vessel, capable of breaking only up to 1 meter thick ice, found difficult to reach.

By 2025, a microsatellite for Arctic sea ice observation will be developed. In 2027, a carbon-zero research infrastructure based on eco-friendly hydrogen energy in the Arctic Circle will be established, and by 2029, new pharmaceutical substances utilizing polar biological resources will be secured. The government plans to develop new technologies for extreme environments to secure competitiveness in Arctic route navigation. It will develop an eco-friendly icebreaking container ship capable of container transport in the Arctic, laying the foundation for Korean shipping companies to operate safely on Arctic routes.

Following the Arctic, the government will also advance into the Antarctic inland. By 2027, it will select an optimal base candidate site for inland Antarctic research and plans to build the world's sixth inland Antarctic station by 2030. The existing inland Antarctic stations are operated by five countries: the United States, Russia, Japan, France-Italy (jointly), and China.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The station to be established this time will be Korea's third Antarctic base, following the Sejong Science Station and Jang Bogo Science Station located on the Antarctic coast. The Antarctic inland, untouched by humans, holds significant research value but requires advanced exploration technology to avoid crevasses?gaps formed by glacier fractures. Advancing inland itself signifies success in enhancing exploration technology. Through this, the government will attempt deep ice core drilling at a depth of 3,000 meters containing air from 1 million years ago and drilling into subglacial lakes located 2,000 meters beneath the ice. This will enable exploration of past Earth climate change information and the possibility of unknown life forms.

Through polar exploration, technologies to overcome extreme environments such as extreme cold and strong winds in the Arctic and Antarctic will be developed, including communication technology, unmanned mobility, and construction technology (modular, etc.). These technologies are expected to have ripple effects in exploring other extreme environments such as space and the deep sea. Furthermore, the government plans to secure polar fisheries and biological resources. Starting from the 23rd in Incheon, it will lead the 'Central Arctic Ocean High Seas Non-Regulated Fisheries Prevention Agreement' 1st Meeting of the Parties to protect Arctic Ocean fishery resources and enable sustainable fishing.

A 'whole-of-government polar policy consultative body' involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, related ministries, and local governments will be established. Internationally, customized cooperation projects will be conducted with the eight Arctic countries, and an Antarctic Forum will be newly established in 2024. To adequately respond to polar research demands, polar infrastructure will be shared with the private sector, and by 2023, research and experimental facilities replicating polar-like environments will be built domestically to support experiments and equipment use by industries and research institutions.

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seung-hwan said, "The government will faithfully implement the basic plan announced today to respond to climate change and seek the key to developing new advanced technologies," adding, "We will do our utmost to position the Republic of Korea as a global leader in polar activities that illuminate humanity's future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.