Evaluation of 'Korean Gaetbul' for World Natural Heritage Status Postponed

Postponement of UNESCO World Heritage Committee Meeting Due to COVID-19 Impact

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The evaluation for the inscription of "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flat," which South Korea has applied for as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, will be postponed until after July. This delay is due to the postponement of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting caused by the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The World Heritage Committee announced on the 16th, "Due to the recent global spread of COVID-19, the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, originally scheduled to be held from June 29 to July 9, will be postponed." They added, "We will reschedule and announce the new dates soon." This year's World Heritage Committee meeting is planned to be held in Fuzhou (福州), the capital of Fujian Province, China. Previously, the committee stated in a notice, "The health of all participants is a primary concern, and we will follow the recommendations of domestic and international health authorities regarding the COVID-19 situation," showing a cautious stance on holding the meeting as scheduled.

The World Heritage Committee meeting is a large-scale international cultural heritage event held annually. Participants from various countries gather to select cultural and natural heritage sites of significant importance to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Decisions are also made regarding the restoration of cultural properties or natural heritage damaged by natural disasters or wars.

This year, South Korea applied for "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flat" as a World Natural Heritage site. It is a serial heritage site encompassing approximately 1,300 km² of tidal flats located in Seocheon, Chungnam; Gochang, Jeonbuk; Sinan, Jeonnam; and Boseong-Suncheon, Jeonnam. Various species, including the endangered Far Eastern Curlew, inhabit the area. It has been designated as a wetland protection area due to the stable preservation of the world's thickest mud sediment layers.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the advisory body for natural heritage, conducted an on-site inspection from September to October last year. The inspection results, categorized as "Inscribe," "Refer," "Defer," or "Not to inscribe," have not yet been disclosed. If "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flat" is inscribed, the number of World Natural Heritage sites held by South Korea will increase to two, including the "Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes."