Kia to Plant Halophytes on 50,000 Pyeong of Tidal Flats... Steps Up for Ecosystem Restoration

Business Agreement with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
Expanding Blue Carbon Sinks to Contribute to Carbon Neutrality

Kia will take the lead in restoring the mudflat ecosystem in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province.

Aerial rendering of the Seocheon Mudflat Blue Carbon Ecological Restoration Project. Kia

On July 28, Kia announced that it had signed a multilateral business agreement with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, South Chungcheong Province, Seocheon County, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, and Korea Marine Foundation to promote the 'Seocheon Mudflat Blue Carbon Ecological Restoration Project' at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas.

The signing ceremony was attended by key stakeholders, including Kia President Song Ho-sung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo, South Chungcheong Governor Park Soo-hyun, Seocheon County Mayor Yoo Seung-kwang, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation Chairman Kang Yong-seok, and Korea Marine Foundation Chairman Kim Yang-soo.

This business agreement is based on public-private cooperation, with the aim of restoring the mudflat ecosystem in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, by planting halophytes and expanding blue carbon sinks.

Halophytes are plants that thrive in high-salinity soil, while blue carbon refers to carbon absorbed by marine ecosystems.

Mudflats, which absorb and store carbon based on their sediment layers and halophytes, are representative blue carbon ecosystems. They perform a variety of ecosystem functions, such as carbon absorption and purification of pollutants, giving them high value as natural capital.

Through this business agreement, Kia will continue its efforts to restore mudflat ecosystems and protect natural capital.

Previously, since 2022, Kia has collaborated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on a project to restore vegetation in the Maehyang-ri mudflat in Hwaseong City, planting halophytes in approximately 40,000 square meters of wetland protection area.

Kia and the participating organizations plan to plant halophytes and strengthen the carbon absorption capabilities of approximately 168,000 square meters (about 50,000 pyeong) of mudflats—specifically, the Jangam Mudflat, Sori Mudflat, and Songnim Mudflat areas in Seocheon—by 2029.

In particular, in the Jangam Mudflat region, Kia will restore the damaged mudflat ecosystem by utilizing idle sites of former fish farms and will also create a blue carbon garden that includes a mudflat trail and observation deck.

Kia expects that, as halophyte colonies naturally expand in the future, the range of environmental benefits—including carbon absorption, purification of pollutants, improved habitats for seabirds, and recovery of biodiversity—will continue to grow.

Going forward, Kia plans to actively carry out a variety of eco-friendly initiatives to address climate change and protect natural capital, working in close cooperation with relevant organizations and local governments.

President Song stated, "This business agreement is a new cooperative model for ecosystem conservation between businesses, the government, and the local community," adding, "Kia will continue to contribute to carbon neutrality by restoring mudflat vegetation, expanding blue carbon, and fostering collaboration with various partners."

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