Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop Urges to Accelerate Designation of Korea's First Urban Wetland

Revealed at the Tuesday Executive Meeting

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] “We hope to accelerate the designation of Jangnok Wetland in Gwangju Hwangryong River as the 'first urban wetland in Korea.'”

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop stated this at the Tuesday executive meeting on the 26th.

Mayor Lee emphasized, “Jangnok Wetland, located in the urban area of Gwangsan District, is home to 829 species including four endangered species, making it rich in biodiversity. It is a very important ecological environmental asset as it is situated within an urban area where ecosystems are otherwise fragmented.”

He also explained, “Jangnok Wetland has experienced long-standing conflicts between environmental protection and development. According to a public opinion survey conducted last December regarding the designation of the area as a national wetland protection zone, 85.8% of citizens overwhelmingly supported it, resolving conflicts through social consensus, serving as a model case.”

He continued, “We submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Environment in January this year to designate it as a national wetland protection area and planned to complete the designation within the first half of the year. However, due to differing opinions from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, there has been no progress so far. I will meet with Minister Cho Myung-rae of the Ministry of Environment this afternoon to request active cooperation. I hope the city can find ways to work closely with the Ministry of Environment to improve systems such as revising the Wetland Conservation Act.”