<Photo description: Signing ceremony for the joint workwear development agreement between the Korea Polar Research Institute and BOLDEST. From left: Lee Kang-hyun, Head of the Unit of Frontier Exploration at the Korea Polar Research Institute, and Yang Sun-mi, Brand Manager of BOLDEST at KOLON FnC.>

- Advanced functional workwear R&D based on extreme-environment response technology, including research gear and safety shoes

- Developed for researchers of the Unit of Frontier Exploration, the Department of Future Technology Convergence, and polar exploration teams conducting subglacial lake and glacier studies

The KOLON Industries FnC Organization (KOLON FnC) announced that its workwear brand BOLDEST signed a partnership agreement with the Unit of Frontier Exploration under the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) on October 27 at KOPRI’s Jang Bogo Conference Room to jointly develop high-performance workwear designed for extreme environments.

As Korea’s only premium technical workwear brand, BOLDEST is expanding its research scope into polar environments, building on the protective technologies and expertise it has developed in industrial settings. Based on the trusted partnership that KOLON FnC has established with KOPRI, BOLDEST will use this agreement to drive innovation in safety technology that enhances the protection and efficiency of polar explorers, while advancing the development of specialized workwear designed for ultra-low-temperature environments.

The jointly developed product line will comprise a specialized range of workwear designed to ensure safety in real Antarctic field conditions, including flame-resistant (FR) protective clothing and equipment—such as FR garments, safety glasses, face shields, safety shoes, and work jackets—engineered to safeguard researchers during on-site operations.

The collaboration will support personnel from the Unit of Frontier Exploration, which oversees the establishment of inland Antarctic research bases and heavy-equipment maintenance for exploration vehicles; the Department of Future Technology Convergence, which provides research support aboard the icebreaking research vessel IBRV Araon and develops unmanned observation systems for the Antarctic ice sheet; and researchers conducting subglacial lake and ice core drilling projects within multi-kilometer-thick Antarctic glaciers.

A BOLDEST representative said, “In Antarctic expeditions, where temperatures can drop below minus 30 degrees Celsius and working conditions are extremely demanding, ensuring worker safety is paramount. Through this partnership, we aim to combine scientific data with industrial expertise to develop high-performance workwear that protects the body and improves efficiency in real-world field operations such as facility maintenance and vehicle servicing.”