Those enchanted by the Northern Lights, icy deserts, polar bears, sea voyages or research exploration in the Arctic will have an opportunity to satiate their curiosity at an exhibition in Seoul that runs until Nov. 12.

“Explore the Arctic ― Past, Present and Future” at the Korea Foundation Gallery is a collaboration between the Norwegian Embassy, the Fram Museum, the Korea Polar Research Institute and Korea Foundation.

The venue displays posters and videos with detailed descriptions of the landscape, ecology, wildlife, indigenous life, scientific research, shipping and sea routes in the world’s fast-diminishing, yet ever-relevant polar region. 

Norway, which has 40 percent of its territory north of the Arctic Circle, has proactively protected the region’s environment, resources and inhabitants, while optimizing commerce.

The Arctic has been Norway’s foreign policy priority. The Nordic nation has strived to build an inclusive international partnership dedicated to a “stable, predictable and peaceful Arctic” through the Arctic Council.

Korea became a permanent Artic Council Observer in 2013, and has taken part in research expeditions with Norwegian partners. Korea’s Dasan Scientific Research Station has been operating on the Svalbard archipelago since 2002, with the participation of the Korea Polar Research Institute and the Korean icebreaker vessel Araon.

Tromso city in northern Norway is home to the Arctic Council Secretariat as well as the Arctic Economic Council Secretariat. The city will host the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat next year.

“The greatest feat in life is not so much where we stand, but which direction we are taking,” the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Morten Hoglund said in a speech at the opening ceremony Wednesday, borrowing the words of Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930), whose biography was displayed alongside his contemporary Roald Amundsen (1872-1928).

In an interview with The Korea Herald and other media, Hoglund said that Norway believed it was possible to combine economic development and environmental preservation in the Arctic, by pursing a holistic approach enmeshed with stringent regulations.

As climate change increasingly melts away the polar ice cap and opens new sea routes, Norway expressed the desire to use the Northeast Passage between Europe and Asia, which would significantly reduce freight time across the Arctic.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg wrote in a foreign affairs report in November 2014: “There is great potential for value creation in the interplay between the traditional industries and modern technologies in the Arctic.”

Solberg added that the Norwegian government aimed to assist business communities by drawing on extensive knowledge from education and research and sound regulations geared toward the region’s sustainable development.

Hoglund stressed that some environmentally sensitive areas were off-limits to commercial ventures, as development would further threaten the endangered wildlife and ecology. Noting the discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea that has economically benefited Norway for the last five decades, he said that his country had decided not to develop the untapped oil and gas fields in the northern oceans, including the Barents Sea, out of environmental concerns. 

“We also have very strict regulations concerning technologies used,” he said. “Norway has pushed technological innovations in offshore oil and gas exploration with very low oil spills and accidents.”

Using its bountiful waterfalls and rivers, from its furrowed valleys and fjords, Norway meets close to 100 percent of its domestic energy needs through hydropower. Oil and gas are primarily exported in the global market, he said.

Norway plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, adhering to a collective agreement with the European Union.

“Development has to be balanced. Things cannot be done the same way as 30 years ago,” the Deputy Foreign Minister said. “We need much higher standards and this requires a combined effort of the industries, peoples and governments worldwide.”

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)