South Korea's Tidal Flats Garner Global Attention With 4 More Added to UNESCO Heritage List

[Anchor]

South Korea's tidal flats serve as a home to some 2,000 species of life, including endangered migratory birds. In recognition of preserving this biodiversity, four tidal flat areas were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2021: Seocheon in South Chungcheong Province, Gochang in North Jeolla Province, and Shinan and Boseong-Suncheon in South Jeolla Province. Today (July 25), four additional tidal flats have been added to the World Heritage list. The newly included sites are Seosan in South Chungcheong Province, and Muan, Goheung, and Yeosu in South Jeolla Province. This marks the first time that an expansion has been made to one of the country's existing three heritage properties.

Reporter Lee Ju-sang has the details.

[Reporter]

The expansion of the "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats" has been approved at the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee currently taking place in Busan.

The World Heritage Committee evaluated the Korean tidal flats as a core habitat along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for migratory birds and a treasure trove of diverse marine life.

Tidal flats are flat coastal areas of mud or sand that are submerged by the sea at high tide and exposed above the water at low tide. The areas around the west and south coasts of the Korean Peninsula are gaining recognition as an ecologically vital space on a global scale.

[Huh Min / Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service: Together with North Korea and China, we intend to fulfill our role as a leading nation in the preservation of global heritage concerning the tidal flats of the Yellow Sea, the 'Yellow Getbol.']

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, running through July 29 in Busan, has drawn a record-breaking scale with some 3,100 participants from 162 countries.

During the event, the Korean Pavilion set up by the government to introduce Korean culture attracted about 52,000 visitors.

South Korea currently holds 15 cultural heritages, including Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, and Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, as well as 2 natural heritages, Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes and the tidal flats.

Next year, the "Capital Fortress Walls of Hanyang," large-scale facilities built by the Joseon Dynasty to defend its capital, will vie to become the country's 18th UNESCO World Heritage site.

(Video by: Jung Kyoung-mun | Video Editing by: Chae Chul-ho)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.