The nation’s first ice-breaking vessel Araon will return home Monday morning after wrapping up an 88-day voyage to Antarctica.

The 75-hundred ton Araon left the port of Incheon December 18th last year and surveyed potential sites in Antarctica for a Korean research facility.

The vessel surveyed candidate sites in Cape Burks and Terra Nova Bay for Korea’s second research station in Antarctica, and conducted an ice-breaking test.

The icebreaker will head for the Arctic in late June or early July after repair.

The Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Ministry will announce its selection of the research facility site Wednesday.