Korea's veteran arctic researchers see big changes over the years

Industry

Published: 13 Feb. 2023, 20:06

Korea's veteran arctic researchers see big changes over the years

Kang Sung-ho, right, president of Korea Polar Research Institute (Kopri), during Korea's first expedition to the Arctic region in 1999 [KOPRI]

TROMSO, Norway - Twenty-four years ago when a Korean researcher set foot on Arctic sea ice, the scenery there looked quite different.

“When I first reached 75 degrees north in August 1999, the region was filled with two- to three-meter-thick perennial sea ice,” Kang Sung-ho, president of the Korea Polar Research Institute (Kopri), told Korea JoongAng Daily on Feb. 1 in Tromso, where the annual Arctic Frontiers event took place. “But every time I went back there since then, I could see the ice thinning, and pieces of broken ice floating in the water.”

Kang was one of Korea’s first two researchers dispatched to the Arctic Ocean for a 70-day expedition on a Chinese icebreaker in 1999.

Since Kang’s first expedition in the Arctic, a lot has changed; Korea, which did not have its own polar research vessel back then, plans to build its second icebreaker by 2026.

Plus, the polar region has been steadily losing 13 percent of its sea ice every decade.

“I can see the ice retreating every year,” said Lee Yoo-kyung, head of Kopri-Norway Polar Institute (NPI) Cooperative Polar Research Center.

Lee, a microbiologist studying tundra vegetation and ecosystems, first entered the Arctic region in 2003. Norway’s Svalbard — where the Arctic Dasan Research Station of Kopri is located — has grown significantly warmer than before, according to Lee.

The Arctic, often referred to as the planet’s air conditioner, plays a crucial role in cooling the planet.

“The Arctic region is at the forefront of climate change, and what’s happening in the region also accelerates climate changes in the rest of the world,” said Hong Young-ki, Korea’s Ambassador for Polar Affairs.

“That’s why every country with research capabilities should come together for joint scientific effort.”

Korea’s Arctic activities have come a long way over the past two decades.

After establishing the Dasan Arctic Science Center in 2002 and completing its first icebreaker, the Araon, in 2009, Korea gained observer status in the Arctic Council in 2013. There are currently 13 observer states, which do not have the authority to write policies but can join working groups at the council to contribute to research and preservation of the Arctic region.

The science-oriented approach made Korea a trustworthy ally to the Arctic states, said Jeong Ji-hoon, head of International Cooperation at Kopri.

“The Korean government’s willingness and commitment to supporting steady activities in the Arctic region remains strong, even compared to other observer states,” Jeong added.

In November, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced a comprehensive plan to promote polar activities. The plan includes building a next-generation icebreaker, costing 277.4 billion ($219.5 million) won, by 2026.

Korea recently hosted the first meeting for the parties of the Agreement to prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries (Caofa), which took effect in 2021.

Caofa members are Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, the United States, Korea, China, Iceland, Japan and the European Union.

Ambassador Hong, who led the Korean delegation during the negotiation for the Caofa in 2017, explained that the agreement aims to find “a balance between its two goals, as it regulates the fishing activities in the area to preserve the environment, while also pursuing sustainable fisheries after a certain period of time."

Hong Young-ki, left, Korea's ambassador for polar affairs, and Morten Hoglund, Norway's arctic ambassador and senior arctic official, on Jan. 31 [KOPRI]

Business opportunities in the Arctic have been on the rise over the past years in regard to the green energy, mining, fisheries and infrastructure expansion.

The warming of the planet opened a new gateway as well, the Northern Sea Route, which is expected to cut the shipping time and create new opportunities in shipping and shipbuilding.

The Korea Arctic Research Consortium (KoARC) aims to tap into the new opening.

Established in 2015 under Kopri, KoARC is a multidisciplinary cooperative network involving companies and research institutions. The consortium has 40 members so far, including Korea’s three largest shipbuilders — Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) — and Korea Gas Corp.

“Unlike Antarctica where there is no indigenous population, there are 4 million people living in the Arctic region,” said Seo Hyun-kyo, secretary general of the KoARC.

“Therefore, the issues in the region require a multi-pronged approach, and that's why we need a research consortium encompassing various sectors across the board.”

KoARC conducted a research demand survey for eco-friendly icebreaking container ships last year, said Seo, emphasizing that “the era of the Northern Sea Route will begin with container ships.”

Shipbuilding is one of the key areas in which Korea has global competitiveness. DSME, for example, built the world’s first icebreaking liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier in 2017.

The consortium is currently in discussion with the Arctic Economic Council for a signing of a memorandum of understanding, in order to secure a channel for industrial and research collaboration in the Arctic region.

Korea’s role in the Arctic is expected to further grow, especially in collaboration with the Arctic states such as Norway.

“Sustainable economic development in the Arctic is very important,” said Moten Hoglund, Norway's Arctic Ambassador and Senior Arctic Official, to Korea JoongAng Daily on Feb. 1, adding that “an advanced country like Korea has as much to offer on that front for building a partnership.”

“We appreciate the excellent dialogue and cooperation with South Korea on Arctic issues, including the longstanding and expanding research cooperation between Norwegian and Korean institutions,” said Erling Rimestad, Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway, in a written statement to Korea JoongAng Daily.

“The cross-border nature of the region’s challenges will not disappear,” said Rimestad. “These challenges must be dealt with multilaterally, also in the future.”

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]