'Korean tidal flats' have expanded their boundaries, reaffirming their outstanding value as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The 48th World Heritage Committee made the final decision on July 25 during a meeting in Busan to expand the registration of 'Korean tidal flats' to a second phase.
With this decision, the existing four tidal flats registered as World Heritage in 2021—the Seocheon tidal flats in South Chungcheong Province, the Gochang tidal flats in North Jeolla Province, the Sinan tidal flats in South Jeolla Province, and the Boseong-Suncheon tidal flats—will now include the tidal flats of Muan, Goheung, Yeosu, and Seosan. This marks the first case of an expanded registration among South Korea's World Heritage sites.
As a result, 'Korean tidal flats' have been expanded into a continuous heritage site consisting of six components: Boseong-Suncheon-Yeosu-Goheung tidal flats, Sinan-Muan Tando Bay tidal flats, Muan Hamhae Bay tidal flats, Gochang tidal flats, Seocheon tidal flats, and Seosan tidal flats.
This expansion signifies the international community's renewed recognition of the universal value of the biodiversity and migratory bird habitats found in Korea's tidal flats. The World Heritage Committee particularly praised the natural heritage value of these sites for their contribution to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and various marine life, as key habitats in the Yellow Sea ecosystem and the East Asia-Australasia migratory flyway.
South Korea previously applied for the expansion of the existing World Heritage boundaries through a 'boundary modification (expansion registration)' method. The World Heritage Committee had recommended including additional tidal flat areas to more fully demonstrate the heritage's value when it registered the four tidal flats in 2021.
In response, the Cultural Heritage Administration has closely collaborated with relevant central government departments, local governments, communities, and the Korea Tidal Flats World Heritage Registration Promotion Team since the first phase of registration in 2021 to implement the committee's recommendations. This included reviewing the World Heritage value of the additional tidal flat areas, designating protected areas, establishing management systems, consulting with local communities, and responding to assessments from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
A representative from the Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "This second phase of expansion registration is a valuable result achieved through the combined efforts of the Cultural Heritage Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the relevant local governments, and the Korea Tidal Flats World Heritage Registration Promotion Team. It is also significant that our adherence to the recommendations made during the 2021 registration has been recognized internationally."
Following this registration, the government is expected to continue research on the additional tidal flat areas and efforts to secure community support. Furthermore, the IUCN has previously recommended strengthening international cooperation with relevant parties to ensure the continuation of traditional fishing and tidal flat resource harvesting practices, as well as the conservation of migratory bird habitats, which will also be prioritized.
Heo Min, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, remarked, "The second phase of the expansion registration of Korean tidal flats is a meaningful achievement that faithfully implements the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee in 2021 and further enhances the conservation value and integrity of our tidal flats. Above all, it is significant that this is the result of long-term efforts by the government, local governments, communities, and experts working together."
He added, "I hope this registration will serve as an opportunity to further expand international cooperation for the conservation of the Yellow Sea ecosystem and the East Asia-Australasia migratory flyway. We will continue to do our best for systematic preservation, management, and sustainable use, recognizing that Korea's tidal flats are not only a heritage of South Korea but a precious natural heritage that the whole world must protect."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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