“ Canada ’ s Arctic : Vibrant and Thriving , ” an exhibition at the Asan Institute Gallery in Seoul in the month of December , show 16 large photographs and posters of the North ’ s thriving communities within frozen landscapes , including the northern lights . ( Joel Lee / The Korea Herald ) The Canadian Arctic was once described as the “ land that becomes large , alive like an animal ; it humbles him . It is not that the land is simply beautiful but that it is powerful . ” The literary eulogy continued in “ Arctic Dreams , ” an award - winning book by American author Barry Lopez , “ Darkness and light are bound together within it , the feeling that this is the floor of creation . ” Covering over 40 percent of its territory , the Arctic has long been regarded as an indispensable part of Canada ’ s national identity . Since the new millennia , the North has broken out of its uncharted territory to be a land of opportunity . Canadian Prime Minster Stephen Harper said in 2008 in the town of Inuvik in Canada ’ s Northwest Territories , “ We are a northern country . The True North is our destiny ― for our explorers , entrepreneurs and artists . To not embrace the promise of the North now , at the dawn of its ascendency , would be to turn our backs on what it means to be Canadian . ” The Canadian North is being showcased at an exhibition titled , “ Canada ’ s Arctic : Vibrant and Thriving , ” at the Asan Institute Gallery this month . Sixteen large photographs and posters display the region ’ s thriving communities within frozen landscapes , including the northern lights . The exhibit shows Inuit and Aboriginal communities with a lifestyle inured to the harsh climate . The Inuit ― meaning “ people ” in Inuktitut ― have lived in Canada ’ s northernmost lands , hunting and gathering with the seasons for millennia . The lands south of the Arctic Circle were occupied by the forefathers of today ’ s Aboriginal peoples , including the Dene , Gwichin , Cree and Metis . Today , these peoples dwell in tight - knit communities across the Yukon , southern Northwest Territories and northern border regions of mainland provinces .   Canada ’ s federal and territorial governments are working to devolve power and autonomy to these peoples . By partnering with companies , the local communities are looking to unlock the region ’ s enormous business potential while at the same time preserving their indigenous ways of life . The Arctic is on the cusp of an economic renaissance . International attention has heaped up in recent years , driven by the region ’ s vast potential in energy development , sea route opening and polar research . Its rich natural resources of minerals , crude oil and liquefied natural gas ― estimated to be over 20 percent of the world ’ s reserves ― form the next growth engine of the energy - driven global market . The Canadian government put the Arctic on the top of its federal agenda . The Northern Strategy , introduced in 2007 , declared four guiding principles of development : territorial sovereignty , sustainable development , environmental protection and local governance . By taking up Arctic Council chairmanship from 2013 to 2015 ― a high - level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by Arctic governments and indigenous peoples ― Canada is leading initiatives on responsible business , self - sustained communities , Arctic research and tourism and wildlife conservation . The Canadian High Arctic Research Station , a key element of the Northern Strategy , will be operational by 2017 as a world - class research hub for international scientists . Korea has been upping its effort to take part in the global Arctic affairs by assuming a permanent observer position at the Arctic Council since May 2013 . With the signing of Canada - Korea free trade agreement in September , the two countries inked a memorandum of understanding on joint scientific research , mineral resource exploration and commercial development of the Arctic . Canada and Korea have undertaken joint research projects through the Korea Polar Research Institute and the Arctic Council ; and scientists from both countries participated in a geoscience research mission in the Canadian Beaufort Sea from the Korean icebreaker Araon last year . The melting icecap exacerbated by global warming , while presenting threats in the lesser - developed countries , created new opportunities for polar navigation . The Northern Sea Route connecting the Far East Asian Sea and the Baltic Sea is expected to reduce transport time and distance by over 40 percent , compared to using the Suez Canal . Korea ’ s port city of Busan is envisaged to assume a greater role as a commercial harbor for container and bulk . Analysts say that Busan has the potential to replace Singapore for transporting goods to major European ports , such as Bremen , Rotterdam and Antwerp . The exhibition is organized as part of the Cross - Cultural Engagement program by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies and Educational Broadcasting System in partnership with embassies in Korea . Heads of mission are invited to deliver lectures introducing their countries to Korean audiences , which are broadcast on EBS every Tuesday at 8 p . m . By Joel Lee ( joel @ heraldcorp . com ) 미래 엘리트 를 위한 영어 신문 주니어 헤럴드 	 더 많 은 기사 보 러 가 기 → [ 코리아 헤럴드 홈페이지 ] [ 트위터 ] [ 페이스북 ] 	 구독 신청 1588 - 0533 	 <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >