'First Domestic Hosting' 2030 Nam-Bukgeuk Integrated Polar Science Conference to be Held in Incheon

The integrated polar academic conference for the Arctic and Antarctic in 2030 will be held in Incheon.

Incheon City and the Korea Polar Research Institute announced on the 24th that South Korea has been selected as the host country for the integrated polar academic conference for the first time, and the event is scheduled to take place in Incheon.

This academic conference is organized by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), international organizations composed of Antarctic and Arctic researchers, to promote joint research and international cooperation. The first conference was held in 2018 in Davos, Switzerland.

Both organizations are focusing on selecting research priorities as a core goal to make the conference a milestone in polar research development ahead of the 5th "International Polar Year (2032?2033)." They have put special effort into the host country selection process and conducted a competitive bidding process.

South Korea succeeded in attracting the conference by competing with Switzerland and Sweden under the slogan "Frozen Frontline, Opening Tomorrow Together: Cooperation to Shape the Future of the Earth."

Last month, the Korea Polar Research Institute presented its bid proposal at the SCAR representatives meeting and recently at the IASC board meeting, persuading member countries. They also proposed Incheon, where an international airport is located, as the host city, drawing attention for including a strategy to minimize participants' accommodation and travel to reduce carbon emissions.

Incheon City also expressed strong willingness to host the conference by submitting a letter of support from Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok.

More than 2,000 polar scientists from around the world are expected to gather at the 2030 integrated Arctic and Antarctic polar academic conference. As the host country, Incheon plans to form an organizing committee composed of domestic experts to participate from the planning stage and aims to use this event as an opportunity to elevate the status of polar science research.

An official from Incheon City said, "Incheon is home to the Korea Polar Research Institute, which operates polar science bases and the icebreaker research vessel Araon, making it the center of polar science research," and "we will do our best to ensure the successful hosting of the 2030 integrated Arctic and Antarctic academic conference."

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