KOPRI

Welcome to the homepage of the Korea Polar Research Institute.

The Antarctic and the Arctic, or collectively referred to as the polar regions, may seem disconnected to our normal daily lives due to their remoteness, harsh and extreme environment.

The polar regions, however, are an indispensable part of the Earth’s system as a modulator of Earth climate system. The Antarctic and the Arctic are understood as the most responsive and sensitive regions to global warming which then could affect the global climate.

This immense, clean natural environment, located on the Earth's polar regions, has a unique environmental system of lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and cryosphere. Furthermore, it is the best place to observe and predict future climate because it is the Earth’s most sensitive and responsive area to climate change.

Recent significant increase in attention to the polar regions from policy and business perspectives reflects the urgency of better understanding on rapid changes taking place these regions, as well as addressing the issues with the best science available. This is the reason why we, with our excellent polar research infrastructure - two Antarctic year-round stations, one Arctic station and the IBRV Araon - strive to make world-class progress in Arctic and Antarctic sciences.

The global health crisis has substantially affected international polar research efforts and hindered many multi-national field works and operations. Facing these adversaries, KOPRI made a meaningful success during the last Arctic summer season with a creative approach of one-leg scientific research voyage with no –resupply, no-port call, and zero-interaction during Arctic cruise except only from the mother port of IBAV Araon. A progress will also be made for the upcoming research cruise in the Southern Ocean.

Embracing change and innovation, will be the key for us to actively address climate change and create future values from polar sciences. We will continue to strive for achieving excellence in polar sciences.

We hope you will join our journey to the polar regions, where you will find the answer to the secrets and mysteries of the Earth.