The government is considering the Amundsen Sea in western Antarctica as a strong candidate site for building a second Korean research base near the South Pole.

The nation decided to build a second base as King Sejong Base, the first Korean base in Antarctica built in 1987, has faced difficulties in research because it is located outside the Antarctic Circle.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said Tuesday that it will choose four candidate sites, including the Amundsen Sea, and hold symposiums and public forums to select a final site before applying for approval at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.

The government plans to invest some 70 billion won up until 2011 for the construction and development of the second base.

With the second base, the government seeks to establish a research foundation to develop natural resources and related technologies in the Antarctic.