Anchor: Construction of South Korea’s second Antarctic research station has begun 24 years after the country built its first base in the region in 1988. Our Jang Souie has the details.

Report: South Korea held a groundbreaking ceremony for its second Antarctic research base on Tuesday. A delegation led by Second Vice Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Ju Sung-ho attended a ceremony on Tuesday to break ground for the Jang Bo-go base at Terra Nova Bay in the Antarctic.

Construction of the Jang Bo-go base, named after the ninth-century Korean admiral, comes 24 years after the country’s first Antarctic research station, the King Sejong base, was completed in 1988.

While the King Sejong base is located on the northernmost King George Island of the south pole, the Jang Bo-go base is being constructed on the mainland. More conveniently located, the new base is expected to serve as a bridgehead for South Korea to advance in the polar region.

Once construction of the Jang Bo-go base is completed in March 2014 as scheduled, South Korea will become the world’s ninth country to have two or more research stations in the Antarctic, following the U.S., Britain and China.

Vice Minister Joo expressed his hope for the new research base during a speech at the ceremony. He said while South Korea faced limits in research due to geographical factors of its first base, the Jang Bo-go base will serve as an impetus for the country to carry out more active studies on submarine geology and marine natural resources in the Antarctic.

The government delegation asked for support from countries such as the U.S. and Italy that operate similar research bases in the region in the construction of the new base and strengthening of international networks after the station is completed.

The delegation also met the crew of South Korea's Araon icebreaker, which is currently anchored at Terra Nova Bay, to compliment them for their hard work in rescuing a Russian fishing boat.

Terra Nova Bay was selected as the final site for the Jang Bo-go base in March 2010, after rigorous screening by the South Korean government that began in 2006.

Jang Souie, KBS World Radio News.