"Korean Tidal Flats" Expanded After 5 Years... Seosan, Yeosu, Goheung, and Muan Newly Inscribed as World Heritage Sites (Comprehensive)

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"Adopted."

Mr. Heo Min, the Commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration, said shortly after the inscription, "This is a very meaningful achievement that faithfully implements the recommendations of the 2021 World Heritage Committee and further strengthens the value of biodiversity conservation and the integrity of our tidal flats as a heritage." He added, "It is the fruit of long-term joint efforts by the government, local governments, local communities, and experts."

The plenary session of the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee held at BEXCO in Busan on the 25th. In order to avoid a conflict of interest, Lee Byoung-Hyun, Korea’s Ambassador for International Negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chair of the host nation, handed over proceedings to Vice-Chairman Pierre Faye of Senegal. When Mr. Faye announced the inscription of the second phase expansion of "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats," the hall broke into applause. Members of the Cultural Heritage Administration, the inscription promotion taskforce, and local government officials congratulated each other and celebrated the fruition of five years of preparation for the expanded inscription.

With this decision, tidal flats in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, as well as in Yeosu, Goheung, and Muan, South Jeolla Province, have been newly added to the World Natural Heritage list. Following the 2021 inscription of tidal flats in Seocheon, Gochang, Sinan, and Boseong-Suncheon, "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats" has now been expanded into a serial heritage site comprising six components.

The newly incorporated World Heritage area covers approximately 27,975 hectares, with an additional buffer zone of about 24,795 hectares. As a result, the World Heritage site has been reorganized as follows: Boseong-Suncheon-Yeosu-Goheung Tidal Flats; Sinan-Muan Tando Bay Tidal Flats; Muan Hamae Bay Tidal Flats; Gochang Tidal Flats; Seocheon Tidal Flats; and Seosan Tidal Flats.

This expansion is not simply a matter of extending protected zones. It involved a "Major Boundary Modification" as stipulated by the World Heritage Operational Guidelines, requiring a review process equivalent to that for new inscriptions. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended inscription with its highest rating of "Inscribe" last month, and the World Heritage Committee fully endorsed this recommendation.

The Committee noted, "Korean Tidal Flats meet the World Heritage criteria as a critical natural habitat for biodiversity and the conservation of endangered species." It further assessed that, "as a key habitat within the Yellow Sea ecosystem and the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, it plays a major role in preserving internationally significant migratory waterbirds and a diversity of marine life."

In fact, Korea’s tidal flats constitute a globally important ecosystem, home to over 2,400 species, including endangered migratory birds. The newly added Seosan Tidal Flat is a core habitat for spotted seals and black-faced spoonbills within Garorim Bay, while the Yeosu Tidal Flat is inhabited by endangered species like the red-footed crab. Surveys in the Goheung Tidal Flat have identified 726 species, and the Muan Tando Bay and Hamae Bay Tidal Flats are recognized as crucial habitats for globally endangered waterbirds.

At the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held at BEXCO in Busan on the 25th, Mr Pierre Faye, Permanent Delegate of Senegal to UNESCO and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, announced the inscription of the second phase expansion of Korea's Getbol (Korean Tidal Flats).

During the assessment, Tim Badman, Chair of the IUCN World Heritage Programme's Natural Heritage panel, stated that, "the newly added tidal flats provide habitat for 216 bird species and 24 globally endangered species, enhancing the overall integrity of the serial property."

This expanded inscription also fulfills the follow-up measures recommended by the World Heritage Committee at the time of the initial inscription in 2021. Back then, the Committee recommended a second-phase inscription to include additional tidal flats and further strengthen Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). The government submitted its application last year, and after on-site inspections and review by the IUCN, received final approval on this day.

Mr. Heo Min, Commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration, said just after the inscription, "This is a very meaningful achievement that faithfully implements the recommendations of the 2021 World Heritage Committee and further strengthens the value of biodiversity conservation and the integrity of our tidal flats as heritage." He added, "It is the fruit of long-term joint efforts by the government, local governments, local communities, and experts."

He further stated, "I would like to express my gratitude to the World Heritage Committee for approving the inscription of the tidal flats, which are the jewels of Korea’s marine ecosystem," and continued, "I extend my deep respect and thanks to the local residents who have protected the tidal flats as their home for generations." He emphasized, "Korean tidal flats are not only Korea’s heritage but a natural heritage for all humanity, and we will do our utmost for systematic conservation, management, and sustainable use."

However, some challenges remain. The Ganghwa Tidal Flat, a breeding ground for black-faced spoonbills, as well as tidal flats in Incheon, Hwaseong, and Busan, were excluded from this expansion phase. The IUCN, in its review, also recommended further analysis of tidal flats with Outstanding Universal Value and emphasized the importance of cooperation with local communities. Environmental groups are now demanding a "third-phase expansion inscription" that would include the tidal flats in Incheon, Hwaseong, and Busan, following the outcomes of this World Heritage Committee session.

With this expansion, South Korea now maintains a total of 17 World Heritage sites, including 15 cultural heritage sites and 2 natural heritage sites. The government plans to propose the "Hanyang Capital City Fortress Walls" as a new World Heritage inscription at next year’s session.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.