Researcher repatriated after threatening colleagues at Korean station in ...

The Jang Bogo Station in Antarctica [JOONGANG ILBO]

A Korean researcher stationed in Antarctica has been repatriated after threatening colleagues with a weapon within the station, allegedly from "grievances" toward teammates.

The incident occurred on April 13 at the Jang Bogo Station, when the researcher moved through the station brandishing a weapon and threatening fellow team members, the Korea Polar Research Institute (Kopri) said on Monday.

Multiple senior station personnel calmed and persuaded the researcher and confiscated the weapon. No one suffered physical injury.

The researcher is believed to have harbored grievances against certain colleagues and acted on impulse.

Kopri took immediate safety measures after the incident, separating the researcher's living quarters from those of the other team members. Eighteen researchers are currently stationed at Jang Bogo.

The roughly month-long gap between the incident and Monday's announcement stems from the logistical constraints of Antarctica's remote location. Arranging flights and completing the necessary travel took time before repatriation could be carried out, according to the institution.

"Because of the unique nature of Antarctica, there was inevitably a delay between when the incident occurred and when we were able to make a public announcement," a Kopri official said.

Police have obtained an arrest warrant and plan to execute it as soon as the researcher clears immigration, before investigating the incident's circumstances.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.