Antarctic Base a 'Ticking Time Bomb' Amid Reports of Abuse, Assault, and Knife Rampage

South Korea's Antarctic research stations, crucial hubs for polar research, have been marred by persistent reports of verbal abuse, assault, and sexual harassment among crew members over the past several years. The situation came to a head recently when a member of the Jang Bogo Station was arrested and indicted for brandishing a 47-centimeter sword after escalating conflicts with colleagues.

“

There hasn't been a single expedition without problems. It's just that they were kept quiet, so they weren't known.

Former crew members describe the incidents as 'deep-seated issues finally erupting,' attributing the problems to the extreme, isolated environment and the Polar Research Institute's (PRI) passive response and insular organizational culture. These factors, they argue, have allowed crises to fester unchecked.

According to data submitted by the PRI to Rep. Im Mi-ae's office, the Sejong and Jang Bogo stations recorded two reports of verbal abuse and sexual misconduct in 2021. This was followed by an assault and '갑질' (gapjil, abuse of power) incident involving the wintering-over leader at Sejong Station in 2022, and the recent knife-wielding incident in April. Out of eight cases of early return from Antarctica in the past five years, four were officially attributed to 'personal reasons,' though former crew members suspect internal conflicts were the actual cause.

“

The PRI was passive in its response because [the perpetrator] was the wintering-over leader.

One former crew member recounted severe conflicts at Sejong Station's 35th wintering expedition in 2022, where the leader allegedly broke a crew member's arm for filming daily life. Despite a petition from crew members, the victim was reportedly disciplined for poor work performance and sent home early. The leader later received a minor disciplinary action of 'reprimand' from the PRI, despite being fined for assault in December 2024. In 2021, reports of verbal abuse and sexual harassment at Sejong Station were also filed, with the PRI stating the verbal abuse case was settled amicably and a sexual harassment investigation concluded with no findings of wrongdoing.

“

Most crew members are on one-year contracts, so the institute strongly feels 'just get through this one.'

Managing conflicts is essential in the isolated environment where 18 crew members live together for extended periods. However, critics argue that the PRI, a subsidiary of the Korea Maritime Institute under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, often implements temporary measures to prevent external exposure rather than addressing the root causes. Researchers, who rely on the PRI for their Antarctic research opportunities, find it difficult to raise issues. A PRI spokesperson stated that the institute has taken measures such as disciplining problematic members and repatriating them, and has recently formed a task force to strengthen verification processes for wintering crews and improve on-site conflict resolution.

“

This knife-wielding incident is the result of a public institution with a closed structure repeatedly handling situations 편의적으로 (conveniently/for convenience) centered around the perpetrator.