The South Korean Jang Bogo scientific research station in Antarctica went through a recent episode of threats and violence, in April this year.
The information was revealed last Monday (11), by and published by the vehicle The Korea Times.
A team member threatened teammateswith a homemade knife made from a steel sheet from the station’s workshop, the piercing object was around 30 centimeters.
The base member who ran after his colleagues with the blade did not have his identity revealedbut he is a man in his 50s, according to information from the Korean press, with a history of misconduct and friction with scientists.
The incident left no injuries; the researchers themselves managed to contain the damage, isolating the suspect. As released by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, responsible for the country’s polar program, the suspect is already on Korean soil and.
The team that remained at the base after the episode underwent psychological counseling, according to a report in the South Korean press.
polar winter
Psychological issues in Antarctica have been studied since the beginning of the scientific occupation of the continent. According to the study “Mental health problems in Antarctica” (in free translation), by author Eric Gunderson, points out that the combination of total isolation, physical confinement and a routine of monotonous environmental stimulation causes a notable increase in symptoms such as insomnia, depression, irritability and anxiety.
The research was published in 1967 and indicates that these emotional problems intensify with prolonged stay, affecting group harmony and individual motivation in the face of extreme conditions of cold and darkness.
Jang Bogo Station
South Korea’s modern research station, the second in the country and the first in the continental part of Antarctica, was opened in 2014. In total, during the maximum capacity of the polar summer, the base can receive more than 60 people.
The structure has more than 4,000 square meters.
