Korea's first Icebreaker in NZ, then to Antarctica

Press Release: 7 January 2010

Korea’s First Icebreaker Visits New Zealand on Madien Voyage to Antarctica

Araon, the first Icebreaker from the Republic of Korea, is scheduled to arrive at Port Lyttleton on Friday 8 January 2010, in Christchurch, for a stopover on its maiden voyage from Korea to the Antarctic.

The Araon, a state of the art icebreaker and the first ever domestically produced in Korea, will provide additional support for Korea’s expanding polar research activities which are led by the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI).

Korea currently has one research base in Antarctica, King Sejong Station, which was opened in 1998. The Araon is expected to assist with the planned development of a second research station which could be located near to New Zealand’s Scott Base.

The arrival of the Araon in New Zeland is another significant development in the already strong Korea-New Zealand relations. A Civic Welcome is being held by the Christchurch City Council on Saturday 9 January to welcome the Araon, its crew, scientists and media from Korea.

The official welcome ceremony will be attended by HE Kwang-il Noh, the Korean Ambassador to New Zealand, Dr Hong-geum Lee, Director General of KOPRI, Bob Parker, Mayor of Christchurch City, and Lou Sanson, Director of Antarctica New Zealand. In addition to a Maori welcome, there will be performances by cultural groups from the Korean community in Christchruch at the welcome ceremony.

For further details about the Araon and the Korea’s polar research activities, please visit the official English homepage of the Korea Polar Research Institute at: http://www.kopri.re.kr/index_eng.jsp

ENDS

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