South Korea and Italy Jointly Develop Baekdusan Volcano Eruption Prediction Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] South Korea and Italy have agreed to conduct joint research to prepare for a volcanic eruption of Baekdu Mountain.

On the 9th, the Ministry of Science and ICT jointly held the 12th Korea-Italy Joint Committee on Science and Technology (Joint Committee) via video conference with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This meeting is an intergovernmental consultative body promoted based on the Korea-Italy Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in 1984, where both countries discuss exchanges of science and technology policies, joint research, and cooperation between research institutions.

At this Joint Committee, active discussions were held on new joint research proposals and sharing current science and technology issues between the two countries.

In particular, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources and the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) discussed cooperation plans for developing volcanic research technologies to prepare for disasters such as a Baekdu Mountain volcanic eruption. Italy is a country with the most active volcanoes, and INGV possesses abundant field experience and high research capabilities related to active volcano studies.

In South Korea, Baekdu Mountain, a representative active volcano that has erupted every century since the 10th century, poses concerns for casualties and property damage not only on the Korean Peninsula but throughout Northeast Asia if it erupts. Baekdu Mountain last erupted on a small scale in the early 20th century. The government believes that early acquisition of volcanic eruption prediction technology through research cooperation with INGV will be greatly beneficial not only scientifically but also from a security perspective.

Additionally, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science and the Italian National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM) discussed joint research comparing intercontinental optical clocks using Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). VLBI is a system that networks multiple widely separated radio telescopes simultaneously to create the effect of a single, enormous virtual radio telescope observing the universe.

Jung Hee-kwon, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, “Through this Joint Committee, we were able to confirm both sides’ active willingness to cooperate,” and added, “We hope cooperation in various fields, including volcanic research, will become more active.”