<Photo description: KOLON SPORT and the Department of Future Technology Convergence at the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) sign an MOU for the development and provision of clothing for Korea's Antarctic inland expedition. On the left is Lee Joo-han, Director of the Department of Future Technology Convergence at KOPRI, and on the right is Park Seong-cheol, brand manager at KOLON SPORT>

MOU on the development of clothing and supplies for the K-Route Exploration in Antarctica

KOLON SPORT, an outdoor brand of the KOLON Industries FnC Organization (KOLON FnC), held an MOU signing ceremony for the development of clothing and supplies necessary for the K-Route Exploration in Antarctica with the Department of Future Technology Convergence at the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) on July 21.
KOLON SPORT has been supporting Korea's polar research, starting with the provision of clothing for researchers at the King Sejong Station on King George Island in 1988. Since then, the company has sponsored KOPRI projects such as dispatching researchers at the South and Arctic bases, the Polar Experience Team, and the Korea Expedition for Antarctic Meteorites. KOLON SPORT has been developing and providing products tailored to the polar environment since it became an official partner of KOPRI in 2012. As a sponsor of the Antarctic K-Route Expedition Team since 2018, KOLON SPORT has also been donating clothing and equipment necessary for the expedition.

This MOU includes the provision of the clothing necessary for safe research activities to explore the Korean Route (K-Route) from the Jang Bogo Station to the South Pole as well as collaborations such as field tests required for the development of clothing and supplies for the polar regions.

Park Seong-cheol, brand manager at KOLON SPORT said, “KOLON SPORT, an outdoor brand with the most advanced technology in Korea, has been providing an array of functional products that can be worn even in the harsh polar climate. This is one of the important projects that embody the brand's identity. KOLON SPORT will provide the best clothing and supplies until the K-Route expedition is successfully complete."


< Antarctic Korean Route Expedition >
The Korean Route spans from the Jang Bogo Station to the South Pole with a straight line distance of 1,700km and a total inland traverse distance of about 3,000km. To study objects of high scientific value, such as deep glaciers in Antarctica, the team needs to go far inland. Today, only six countries have permanent research stations in Antarctica: The United States, Russia, China, Japan, and Italy and France, which have a joint station. Most of the latecomers are based on the coast of Antarctica like the Jang Bogo Station. Korea aims to build the world's seventh inland Antarctic station after exploring the Korean Route.