"Heading to the Arctic This Summer"...Korea Polar Research Institute Recruiting Four Teenagers for Experience Program

Applications open for "21st Century Dasan Junior" until April 21
Departure on July 26 for an 8-day, 6-night fully funded Arctic experience

The Korea Polar Research Institute is recruiting four teenagers to experience research firsthand at the Arctic Dasan Science Station this summer.

The Korea Polar Research Institute announced that it will be accepting applications for the youth Arctic Research Experience Group, "21st Century Dasan Junior," from April 1 to April 21. Launched in 2005, this program celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and is recognized as Korea's leading polar experience program. As of last year, a total of 112 teenagers have participated in research experiences in the Arctic.

Poster for the Recruitment of the 2025 Arctic Research Experience Group (21C Dasan Junior). Provided by the Polar Research Institute

The program is open to Korean high school students or Korean youth of high school age. The selection process consists of three stages: document screening, a polar knowledge quiz, and an in-depth interview. This year, a new short-form video production mission has been introduced to assess applicants' creativity, requiring them to create a video introducing themselves or the Dasan Junior program.

The finalists will undergo pre-departure training, including polar safety education and a launching ceremony, before being dispatched to the Arctic for an 8-day, 6-night program from July 26 to August 2.

Participants will join researchers at the Arctic Dasan Science Station in Svalbard, Norway, to engage in real research activities such as glacier observation, fossil site exploration, and Arctic plant collection. They will also have opportunities to visit nearby foreign research stations and participate in exchange programs with local scientists.

All expenses, including airfare and accommodation, will be fully covered by the Korea Polar Research Institute. For further details on application and selection, please visit the institute’s official website.

Shin Hyungchul, Director of the Korea Polar Research Institute, stated, “The 21st Century Dasan Junior program has served as a starting point for teenagers to realize their dreams of becoming future scientists. We look forward to seeing many young people take up the challenge this summer, witness the changes in the Arctic firsthand, and gain an extraordinary experience.”

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