[LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]Support the Antarctic project

Sejong Base, a scientific research institute set up in February 1988 on the Antarctic, is an important project for Korea because Korea is not bountiful in natural resources. Because the base has studied natural resources in the Antarctic land and waters, South Korea could acquire Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties status in 1989. Thanks to the scientific research base, South Korea could accumulate data on Antarctic resources.
It is deplorable when I heard that the South Korean government has not supported the base properly in spite of its importance. While many countries view research on the Antarctic as a national strategy project and invest billions of dollars to support it, Sejong Base has only rubber boats instead of an icebreaker.
The government bought two boats for the base after two researchers died while attempting to rescue missing teammates in the Antarctic. The government should spend more for the base.

by Park Dong-gyu