Korea’s Research Icebreaker to Visit NZ

Press Release: 26 October 2010

Korea’s Research Icebreaker to Visit Wellington and Christchurch

Araon, a research icebreaker from the Republic of Korea, is scheduled to arrive at Queens Wharf in Wellington on Thursday 28 October 2010 on its voyage to Antarctica.

Scientific cooperation between Korea and New Zealand in the areas of nano technology, food technology, renewable energy and climate change are continuing to expand. Especially in the field of climate change, joint Antarctic research presents many opportunities for cooperation between Korea and New Zealand. In recognition of this, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr Kwang-il Noh, and the President of the Korea Polar Research Institute, Dr Hong Kum Lee, will hold a reception aboard the Araon on Thursday 28 October. The Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Hon Dr Wayne Mapp, and other representatives of the New Zealand Government and research institutes have been invited to attend.

The Araon, which is a state of the art icebreaker domestically produced in Korea, will depart Wellington for Christchurch’s Lyttelton Port on Friday 29 October before travelling to Antarctica. Following a stopover early this year at Lyttelton on her maiden voyage to Antarctica, this will be the second visit to Christchurch by the Araon.

Korea currently has one research base in Antarctica, King Sejong Station, which was opened in 1998. This visit to Antarctica by the Araon will assist Korea’s preparations for the establishment of a second station for scientific research located at Terra Nova Bay, which is in close proximity to New Zealand’s Scott Base.

Further details about the Araon and the Korea’s polar research activities are available at the official English homepage of the Korea Polar Research Institute at: http://www.kopri.re.kr/index_eng.jsp

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