By Soh Ji-young
Staff Reporter

Seven of the eight South Korean researchers of King Sejong Station who went missing during a mission to the Antarctic were rescued on Monday by foreign rescue teams, officials said on Tuesday.

But one 27-year-old scientist, Jeon Jae-gyu, was confirmed dead. He was among the five scientists who disappeared while searching for three colleagues who went missing from Saturday. Officials said that the rubber boat holding the five capsized in the rough waters and were later rescued by a Russian rescue team. Four researchers were able to return safely to their base but the body of Jeon will be transported to Chile, officials said.

A group of four scientists, three engineers and one medic based in the South Shetland Islands were reported missing on Monday. The first group of three lost contact Saturday after seeing off colleagues going back to South Korea via Chile but they were saved by a Chilean rescue team, officials said.

The seven survivors are Kang Cheon-yun, Kim Jeong-han, Jung Woong-sic, Choi Nam-yul, Jin Jine, Kim Hong-hwi and Hwang Kyu-hyun.

The government said that it will strengthen safety measures to prevent such tragedies from recurring, by introducing improved transportation vehicles and other equipment such as a global positioning system and sonar equipment.

The government also said it will consider conferring a decoration on the late Jeon to pay tribute to his death.

South Korea has operated the King Sejong Station on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands since February 1988, after joining the Antarctic Treaty in 1986.

Run by the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, it is the 16th Antarctic station in the world. The station was in the process of replacing the staff with new members, its 17th group so far.

jysoh@koreatimes.co.kr