MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Korea plans second permanent station close to South Pole

The Korean government announced this week plans to set up a second research station in Antarctica to expand operations. The project should be completed by 2011.

The Korean Ocean Research and Development Institute unveiled the plan in a brief statement to mark the 20th anniversary of establishment of Korea's first base in King George Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. Korea operates eleven facility buildings and two observatories on the base, named the King Sejong Station, located on the Barton peninsula, (62o 13' S; 58o 47' W). However the planned second base is likely to be established closer to the South Pole, the statement said, without giving details. Currently twenty scientists are conducting environmental monitoring, geomagnetic observations and other research activities, according to the institute's Web site. King Sejong base begun to function 17 February 1988 as a permanent research station and was then comprised six buildings and two observatories. Further facilities were incorporated in Feb 1991 and Feb 2000. The base is located in a strategic point for studying the behavior of energy particles from the space into the Earth's magnetic field. Its relatively mild climate in Antarctica attracts wide range of animals for breeding in summer. When it comes to geology, the northern Antarctic Peninsula including Bransfield Strait and the South Shetland Islands is the most active area until recently in geologic time. The station accommodates two major expeditions, the Summer and the Over-winter research parties. The Summer research party consists of about 50 researchers from KOPRI and guest scientists from other non-governmental bodies including universities. The Over-winter party comprising 16 scientists and engineers stays at the King Sejong Station all year round, routinely collects geophysical and meteorological records and observes biological and oceanographic parameters.