Korea is the 33rd signatory of the Antarctic Treaty and its Consultative Party, and is also one of the regular memb ers of Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The spirit of The Trearty designates Antarctica as a natu ral reserve devoted to peace and science, and is focused upon relevant scientific researches and the disseminati on of findings. The aim of the Antarctic Research Program of Korea is to enhance and enlarge knowledge about A ntarctica.

Because the Korea Antarctic Research Program (KARP) is nationally supported, the requirements and proposals fr om governmental and non-governmental institutions need to be regulated and co-ordinated. The Korean National Committee on Antarctic Research was established for that purpose in 1987 and it makes policy each year to facili tate plans and programs in the intermediate and long term. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF) is responsible for the Korea Antarctic Research Program. This program is conducted by the Korea Polar Research Institute, KORDI which is affiliated to the MOMAF. Korea now has a permanent research station at Barton Peninsu la on King George Isiand, The King Sejong Station, where routine observation and research is conducted.

Summer and winter expeditions comprising of researchers from government and non-government organizations conduct numerous research projects. The major programs are sponsored by the Korean government but some of them are internationally coordinated and sponsored. The research program focuses on the geological evolution of Bransfield Strait, the Southern Ocean Ecosystem, the current and ancient climate and The physical and chemical characteristics of the waters near King George Island.