'Climate environment project - the Antarctic chef' sees Paik Jong-won, Im Soo-hyang, Suho and Chae Jong-hyeop complete an unimaginably harsh Antarctic initiation and be admitted as honorary members of the Antarctic King Sejong Station.
On the 17th, the first episode of 'Climate environment project - the Antarctic chef' aired, in which Paik Jong-won, Im Soo-hyang, Suho and Chae Jong-hyeop departed for Antarctica, the forefront of climate change research. The four visited Antarctica for the first time as 'honorary members,' visiting Penguin Village and King Sejong Station. Suho said, "Seeing extreme weather like heavy rain turning into near heatwave conditions makes me feel, 'it's because of global warming.' I feel a sense of responsibility and burden just by going to Antarctica. I want to show the current situation in Antarctica well."
The four 'honorary members' prepared for their arrival in Antarctica by receiving the survival training necessary for survival, including maritime safety training, fire safety training and land safety training. Chae Jong-hyeop said, "As I underwent survival training, I realized Antarctica is truly dangerous." After completing full preparations, the four arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile, the gateway city to Antarctica, after a long flight. Punta Arenas is geographically only about a two-hour flight to King George Island in Antarctica, making it a gathering place for researchers and explorers preparing to enter Antarctica.
After settling into their Punta Arenas lodging on the first day, Im Soo-hyang said, "It's not yet Antarctica, but I felt like, 'am I really at the end of the world?' I was excited and felt at ease," revealing her fluttering feelings. However, on the second day a snowstorm hit King George Island in Antarctica, and on the third day the runway was coated with black ice. Even on the fourth day runway conditions were poor, and flights to Antarctica were canceled, making entry to Antarctica impossible. The repeated failures left the honorary members feeling frustrated. Fortunately, on the fifth day they received confirmation of their Antarctic entry schedule, and when the flight was confirmed the honorary members finally smiled broadly.
The plane carrying the four honorary members to Antarctica passed over the South American continent and arrived at King George Island, boasting a scale of snowy mountains unlike anything else. Stepping onto Antarctic soil for the first time, Im Soo-hyang said, "I felt awed," showing her emotion. Suho said, "It was a moment I'm unlikely to experience again in my lifetime," conveying his impression of finally entering Antarctica after a long wait.
To move on to King Sejong Station, the honorary members boarded inflatable boats. As they neared Marian Cove, where King Sejong Station is located, small chunks of ice and sea ice that had fallen from icebergs or ice cliffs were spotted. Maritime safety officer Kwon Oh-seok, responsible for their safety, explained that due to climate change the rate at which ice cliffs are collapsing in Marian Cove is increasing. Compared with the past, the ice cliff here has retreated about 2 km, and as of 2025 the bedrock has been exposed. The four witnessed firsthand the crisis facing Antarctica, directly struck by the changes caused by global warming.
Paik Jong-won, Im Soo-hyang, Suho and Chae Jong-hyeop arrived at King Sejong Station in Antarctica, 17,240 km from Korea. As honorary members, they began their first schedule with a moment of silence at the statue of late station member Jeon Jae-gyu, who 21 years ago went out to sea to rescue a fellow member stranded by a blizzard and died in the accident, completing their full admission. The wintering members then gathered at Sejong Hall, the only restaurant in this dining desert, for lunch.
An Chi-young, the original 'Antarctic chef' who is responsible for preparing three meals a day for a year for the wintering members, said, "Eating three meals a day is the greatest joy. Since everyone has different jobs, it's also a time to check that people are doing well," emphasizing the meaning of meals in Antarctica. He added, "We try to satisfy the need for enjoyment in an isolated environment for a year, but because dining out is difficult the members struggle the most. The members say, 'Chi-young's food is delicious, but we wish someone else would make food for us,'" welcoming the 'Antarctic honorary members' who will bring new flavors despite the shortage of fresh ingredients. It raises expectations about what new tastes the four 'Antarctic chefs' will bring to support the wintering members in a limited environment.
'Climate environment project - the Antarctic chef' airs every Monday at 10:50 p.m., and is released on U+tv and U+mobiletv every Monday at 12 a.m.
[Photo] 'Climate environment project - the Antarctic chef'
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