'See You in a Year' Geukjiyeon, Antarctic Winter Research Team Launch Ceremony

The Korea Polar Research Institute (Director Shin Hyung-chul) announced on the 9th that it held the launch ceremony for the Antarctic winter research teams at the Polar Research Institute in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon on the 8th.

The launch ceremony was attended by the 38th winter research team of the Antarctic King Sejong Station (Leader Kim Won-jun) and the 12th winter research team of the Antarctic Jang Bogo Station (Leader Jang Sung-ho), who will carry out missions for about a year in isolated Antarctica. Officials from the Polar Research Institute and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries also supported their challenge.

The Antarctic King Sejong Station, established in 1988 on King George Island, is Korea's first Antarctic research station, conducting studies on marine and ecological systems sensitive to the impacts of climate change.

The Antarctic Jang Bogo Station, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is located in Terra Nova Bay, Northern Victoria Land, East Antarctica. Utilizing its geographical feature as a coastal site on the Antarctic continent, it secures inland access routes and conducts extensive continental-based research including space, astronomy, glaciology, and meteorites.

The winter research teams consist of 18 members per station and will perform on-site research activities and station operation duties from November this year, when the Antarctic summer season begins, until December next year.

After receiving training and education for station life, the Jang Bogo winter team is scheduled to depart on November 3, and the King Sejong winter team on November 29.

Director Shin Hyung-chul of the Polar Research Institute said, “In the changing climate environment, the activities of the winter research teams are a solid cornerstone of polar research that illuminates the future of the Earth,” adding, “I hope all winter team members dispatched to Antarctica carry out their missions safely and healthily and that we can meet again in a year.”