Academic Report a study on South Korea’s policy for Arctic Logistics

Diagram 1: The Design of South Korea’s Master plan

1.3 Specific moves under Each Korean Arctic Policy Plan

The first concept of the plan suggested in the Korean Arctic Master Plan is "Improving International Cooperation," which is again categorized into: (1) extending Arctic Council-related activities; (2) improving Arctic-related international organization activities; and (3) enhancing private-sector cooperation.

In respect to the extension of the Arctic Council's operations, the following are included: meeting the six working groups of the Arctic Council and conducting research with the working groups as co-researchers; and planning to join the Arctic Council's treaties, such as the Marine Oil Pollution Cooperation Agreement. Third, the improvement of the global Arctic community includes the following recommendations: membership of advisory bodies such as the Arctic Economic Council, the Arctic Circle, and the Arctic Frontiers Conference on the Arctic agenda.
Furthermore, the recommendations propose the undertaking of co-research work using Korean research infrastructure such as ARAON at the International Arctic Science Organization and the International Conference on Arctic Research Outlining. Thirdly, the vitalization of private-sector cooperation includes the following recommendation: the development of a climate chair.

This policy also involves the expansion of the Arctic Research and Activity using korean resources, expansion of Arctic Research and Activity bases, strengthening of climate change research and improving geographical knowledge on both the Arctic and Arctic Oceans. The second area is the Strengthening of Scientific Research and the Research Operation. The construction of a second icebreaker research boat which has increased icebreaking capability is one of the most significant items on the agenda with regard to expands Arctic exploration and activities. The icebreaker ARAON is owned by the Korean research team but it is not practical to dispatch the ARAON as a research sailing boat into the Arctic or into the Antarctic, whilst meeting the supply needs of the station. In order to accelerate collaboration, study and exchange of Arctic research information between experts in Korea, the Korea Arctic Study Consortium is established.

The following points apply to extension and operation of the Arctic Research and the use of the Korea network: (1) entering Svalbard-Greenland International, as key scientists; (2) searching the Arctic Ocean for gas hydrogen; (3) use soil freeze / thaw observatory facilities on the Arctic Rim; and (4) improving original technologies for climate change monitoring in Korean infrastructure. With regard to enhancing climate change research: (1) the development of Arctic Ocean and sea ice data assimilation technology; and the research forecasting capacity for the Korean Peninsula's abnormal climate due to climate change in the pole regions. The following points are included as: In the polar region, climate change affects the phenomenon of the abnormal climate. For fact, it will be very beneficial to predict the weather in the northern hemisphere if it becomes possible to predict an irregular temperature pattern at mid latitude places, for instance in Korea.
The following points are included with respect to the creation of geographical data for the Arctic and the Arctic Oceans: the implementation of an Arctic geographical information build up program, the production of geographical information for the whole Arctic region and a comprehension of the present Arctic Coastal Nautical Map.
The design and release of Arctic companies is the third area of policy.
It splits into the construction of Arctic Ocean roads, resource development cooperation, shipbuilding and offshore infrastructure, and fisheries management cooperation. In relation to the above, the following items are included: the Arctic Ocean Test Route, reduced cargo and vessel cargo and MUUs for cooperation in port development between Korea and the Arctic Ocean coastal nations. In respect to the production of resources, a geological exploration is scheduled as co-researchersby engaging in the hydrocarbon research program of Arctic Ocean, as well as participating in the Greenland Mining and rare metal research program. Korea is also considering joining the membership of such fisheries co-operation organisations in Arctic Ocean coastal countries as a non-memberof organizations such as the North East Atlantic Fishery Commission
The fourth focus of the policy is to expand the Arctic's organizational base. To order to implement the Antarctic Treaty Agreement, Korea has already established an Act on Arctic operation and the protection of the environment. In turn, Korea plans to join non-member bodies, such as the North East Atlantic Fishery Commission in the Arctic Ocean Coast states.
The policy's fourth priority is to broaden the operational structure of the Arctic. Korea has already created a Law on Arctic Operations and Environmental Protection in order to implement the Agreement on the Antarctic Treaty. The scope of the Act is, nevertheless, restricted to the Antarctic and focuses mainly on the authorization or control of Antarctic operations. As a result, Korea intends to adopt a new bill covering all the operations in the polar region, including the Antarctic and the Arctic. To order to collect, evaluate and provide data and patterns from the Arctic Council members and analysts, a modern polar area information system will also be proposed.

2. 
   Korea’s Arctic Policy in the international field.
   

As an observer nation in the Arctic Council, South Korea is faced with the necessary duty of starting sustainable partner relations with the Council’s eight permanent members. It is possible to advance active cooperation with Norway, Canada, the United States and Russia – more so than with the other states. The special nature of the relationship between South Korea and Norway is connected to the fact that Norway has become a testing ground for South Korean research programs in the Arctic. The close relations between the Republic of Korea, Canada and the United States are based on the general foundation of their political relations (allied relations) and the scale of economic and technical cooperation.

Simultaneously, it would be a blunder to underestimate the will of the Republic of Korea to play an independent role in the Arctic, which is in hand by hand with the general course to follow a more independent foreign policy. Priority is likely to be given to moving the Arctic Council towards greater transparency in its relations with non-regional states and ultimately making South Korea’s voice heard when it comes to matters of determining the legal, technical and economic conditions for developing the Arctic logistic routes. By accomplishing this, South Korea could strengthen its international standing among countries that are not part of the Arctic Council.

A big goal for the Korean Arctic Strategy is to act as a real observer member of the Arctic Council. The officials from the Korean government attend the ministerial meetings of the Arctic Council and the meeting of the Arctic Senior Officials. The State has created an authorized pool of about 40 experts for about ten working groups and TFs under the Arctic Council every year and has translated major working group documents into Korean and domestically supports the Arctic Circle. In addition, at summits with Canada, the United States, Denmark and Korea, it addressed theenhanced co-operation of the Arctic with a view toimproving co-operationbetween Member States of the Arctic Council and observer Countries. In addition, the Arctic Council Observer Meeting and the Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council were attended by the Korean Government, which addressed issues such as contact among its representatives and observers, and the expanded participation of observation nations in working groups, among others. In contrast to the Arctic Council, Korea has also supported international organisations. As a leading country in scientific organisations, particularly in 93 countries in the field of science, Korea has chaired the Pacific Arctic Group, has led a joint exploration of the Arctic Ocean and has participated in the writing of reports for the Third Arctic Research Planning International Conference. Korean researchers from the polar region have worked as Executives for the IASC, Vice President of the Arctic Research Operators Forum (FARO) and Vice Chairman of the Scientific Managers Council of Ny-Ålesund. We helped to build Arctic research Networks, exchange Arctic research information and collaborate with the Norwegian research village of Ny-Ålesund. Korea has also engaged extensively in the non-governmental Arctic Forums Arctic Frontiers and Arctic Circle. Korea organized a Korean night event at the Arctic Circle in 2015 and implemented core Arctic policies and Korean culture. Korea has been attracting Artically native students to Korea on a private-sector basis, calling the Arctic Academy. Infographics of main arctic policy quality are published by the Oceans and Fisheries Department. This implements four main outputs of the Korean Arctic policy: (1) implementing the Arctic partnership program, (2) improving the network for private sector science, (3) extending Arctic marine environment research, and (4) creating four Arctic permafrost monitoring stations. This section discusses the results in greater detail.
Expand involvement in the actions of the Arctic Council
• Establish arrangements to follow up on the Arctic Council's main decisions
• Conduct daily coordination sessions with member states of the Arctic Council
• Establish plans to engage in the Task Forces of the Arctic Council
• Engage in the Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement's follow-up programs.
Engage in the Working Groups of the Arctic Council
• Develop a plan to expand the involvement of Korean specialists in the six Working Groups
• Build and engage in Joint Working Group Research Projects
Cooperate with Observer States
• Improve collaboration initiatives that lead to creating a stable Arctic with observer states such as China and Japan Develop Professional Research Connections
• Strengthen cooperation with educational institutions such as the University of the Arctic • Enhance joint research with Arctic research institutes
• Establish and run an Arctic Laboratory in Arctic nations
Scientific Research
• Participate in the International Arctic Science Institute (3rd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning)
• Prepare and implement collaborative international research ventures utilizing Korean resources and icebreaking research vessels
• Encourage participation in international forums and advisory society such as the Arctic Frontier and Arctic Circle, etc.
Cooperate in vessel security and the conservation of the marine environment
• Develop shipbuilding technologies for the Arctic and various types of vessels and material technologies (suitable for operations at very low temperatures)
• Establish national safety standards for polar vessels in preparation for the Polar Code;
Partnership with Aboriginal Groups • Cooperation ventures to conserve the unique history, culture and traditional knowledge of the Arctic Cooperate with Indigenous Groups • Cooperation projects to maintain the unique history, culture and traditional knowledge of the Arctic.

3. 
   Prospective policies for Russian-Korean cooperation in Arctic Logistics
   

South Korea is interested in cooperation with Russia as the largest Arctic power securing successful operating of the Northern Sea Route. In South Korea, collaboration with Russia is linked with the prospects of using this transport corridor and developing the energy resources of the Arctic and the Circumpolar regions. Particularly, great significance is attached to marking the potential for transporting cargo along the Northern Sea Route. The Northern Sea Route is hypothetically a very attractive project: the distance between Busan (the largest port in South Korea) and Rotterdam along the polar route is 13,000 km, as opposed to the 20,000-plus km along the traditional sea route. Travel time can be cut by as much as one-third under likeable circumstances.

Another necessary side is the probability of participating in the extraction and transportation of hydrocarbons. South Korean business has already stated an interest in this area.

Goals of South Korea are supported by the reason that the nation possesses the largest shipbuilding complex in the world, which has the capacity to build specialized sea vessels: icebreakers, geological survey vessels, ice class reinforced tankers and offshore rigs, as well as anti-pollution equipment. Specifically, the South Korean Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DMSE) is building icebreaking LNG tankers for the Russian Yamal LNG project. The TPI Mega Line ship operator ships cargo to the Yamal Peninsula, which also includes the use of the appropriate ice class vessels. In this matter, Russia’s active policy in the Arctic is seen by the government and the business community in Seoul as a chance to include South Korean industry – shipbuilding in particular – in the implementation of Russian projects in the Arctic.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s balanced way to the advancement of the Arctic should be considered thoroughly. There are two possible options for implementing South Korea’s Arctic strategy that could affect Russia’s interests. The first (active) option will be learnt by the possibility of the large-scale use of the Northern Sea Logistic Route over a sufficiently long period of navigation.

The alternative is a measured strategy possible if concerns about the limitations of the Northern Sea Route are confirmed – then casting a shadow on the commercial viability of projects. After that South Korea will not regularly take advantage of the transport corridor. The focus can therefore be changed onto individual projects to develop the mineral and energy resources of the Polar region, as well as environmental monitoring and measures to counter climate changes and protect nature in the Arctic.

Diagram 2 shows that the map Northern Sea Ways clearly. Given the current international situation, it makes simple common sense to monitor Russia's NSR. The new rules for going through the NSR are a continuation of a consistent policy, according to the director of the Center for Global Interests in Washington.

Regarding Moscow, U.S. officials have repeatedly stated that the North Sea Route should be a trade corridor accessible to the entire world population. The Russians find out that the NSR is not only within the territorial waters of Russia, but that Russia has the constitutional right and responsibility to control traffic along the whole road.