From Dinosaur and Turtle Fossils to Coastal Landforms... Natural Monument Designation Nears

Boseong Ornithopod Dinosaur Skeleton and More

Final Designation to Be Decided After Cultural Heritage Committee Review

A rare skeletal fossil of a herbivorous dinosaur found in Asia is about to be designated as a Natural Monument.

Complete specimen of Boseong ornithopod dinosaur (Koreanosaurus boseongensis).

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 29th that it will designate the Boseong ornithopod dinosaur skeletal fossil, the Yeosu pig-nosed turtle skeletal fossil, and the Suudo Pungwhahyeol in Tongyeong as Natural Monuments. The agency will gather opinions from various sectors for one month and decide whether to proceed with the designation after deliberation by the National Heritage Committee.

The Boseong ornithopod dinosaur (Koreanosaurus boseongensis) skeletal fossil is a representative case of a Korean dinosaur fossil whose scientific name was officially registered in 2010 in the German journal of geological paleontology (SCIE). The fossil was excavated from the Bibong-ri dinosaur egg fossil site in Boseong between 2000 and 2004. It is the first ornithopod dinosaur skeleton discovered on the Korean Peninsula and belongs to the Orodrominae, which is rarely found in Asia. It is considered a key piece of evidence for dinosaur migration between North America and Asia during the Cretaceous period. The fossil is currently stored and studied at the Korea Dinosaur Research Center at Chonnam National University.

Yeosu Pig-Nosed Turtle (Byeoljubucheolis Yeosuensis) fully molted specimen carapace (left), plastron (right).

The Yeosu pig-nosed turtle (Byeoljubucheolis Yeosuensis) skeletal fossil was discovered in 2006 on Soreokdo Island in Yeosu. Both the carapace (upper shell) and plastron (lower shell) are perfectly preserved, along with vertebrae and both forelimb and hindlimb bones. Unlike typical fossils, the specimen remains completely intact without fragments, making it exceptionally rare.

Panoramic View of Suudo Pungwhahyeol in Tongyeong.

The Suudo Pungwhahyeol in Tongyeong is located on the southern coastal cliffs of Suudo in Saryang-myeon, Tongyeong City, and on the slopes of the nearby Ddandok Island. This large-scale tafoni formation, created by the action of waves, wind, and salt on tuff rock, is notable because the entire process from formation to change can be observed in one location, which is rare. The wave-cut platform of Ddandok Island is situated higher than the current sea level, drawing attention as an indicator for studies on historical sea level changes and climate change.

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