Oceans and Fisheries Minister Cho Seung-hwan speaks during a press briefing at Sejong Government Complex, Monday. Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

The government will build an inland research station in Antarctica by 2030, as part of a long-term plan to elevate the country's standing in the global science and research community, the oceans ministry said Tuesday. About 277.4 billion won ($205 million) will be spent by 2027 to construct the 15,000-ton Araon 2, the latest model of the icebreaker research vessel Araon built in 2009.

The chief priority of the first comprehensive policy assistance package is to secure greater power and influence in the global science and technology hegemonic war, marked by fierce competition over the past few decades.

Equally important is conducting research on methods of countering climate change, an initiative that cannot continue without global cooperation in the years to come.

The envisioned construction will make Korea the sixth global player to have an inland station on the continent, following the U.S. Russia, France, Japan, China and Italy.

The presence of Korea's Antarctic research is growing, as evidenced by the appointment last year of Kim Yea-dong as president of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). SCAR is an international research organization of the International Science Council (ISC), a non-governmental body.

At the North Pole on the other side of the planet, Korea holds observer country status on the Arctic Council, a high-level intergovernmental forum established to address issues of Arctic governments and the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic.

King Sejong Station in Antarctica / Korea Times file

Policies

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the plan will help advance Korea's rapidly growing Antarctic research capabilities, encompassing economic activities, international cooperation and training of experts.

"Korea is about 30 years late in joining the South Pole research activities, but we have more than made up for that in our efforts to build two non-inland stations in Antarctica and an icebreaker research vessel over the past few years," Oceans and Fisheries Minister Cho Seung-hwan said during a press briefing at Sejong Government Complex, Monday.

The polar regions are the first to experience the deadly effects of climate change, the ministry said, a reason why global cooperation is needed to solve problems to help prevent the sea level from rising, for example.

The melting of sea ice brings cold waves to Korea. The global sea level will rise by approximately 58 meters if all Antarctic glaciers melt. This in turn will cause global flooding on a catastrophic scale.

"The research not only is an action of global commitment but also an opportunity for Korea to develop technologies to spur economic growth," Cho said.