Korea's Tidal Flats World Natural and Cultural Heritage SNS Message... "Much Wisdom, Sacrifice, and Desperate Protection Involved"
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "Thank you to those who have protected the mudflats."
On the 30th, President Moon Jae-in shared a message on social networking service (SNS) regarding Korea's mudflats being designated as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage site.
President Moon said, "This proud news did not come overnight. There was the wisdom of many people, sacrifices, and desperate protection. We cannot help but thank those who have protected the mudflats."
President Moon stated, "With 'Korea's Mudflats' becoming a World Natural and Cultural Heritage, the mudflats of Seocheon, Gochang, Sinan, Boseong, and Suncheon have become a 'vast life' that not only we but all humanity must jointly protect and preserve."
President Moon evaluated, "The Seocheon mudflats were once threatened by reclamation for the construction of the Janghang National Industrial Complex. Fortunately, the mudflat reclamation was canceled in 2007, and instead, there was a consensus to establish the National Ecological Industrial Complex, the National Institute of Ecology, and the National Marine Biodiversity Institute. Since then, the Seocheon mudflats were designated as a wetland protection area, and local residents made the great choice of coexistence with nature rather than rapid development."
President Moon pointed out, "Since the late 1990s, the citizens of Suncheon have steadily protected the habitats by undertaking projects such as undergrounding utility poles and creating the Hooded Crane Hope Agricultural Complex to preserve the ecological value of Suncheon Bay. Now, the entire Suncheon area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Without the advanced steps taken by citizens who realized the importance of the mudflats and protected them for over 30 years, the hooded crane would have long since left our side."
President Moon said, "When something is too familiar, we sometimes fail to recognize its value and forget it. We often regret with an 'oh no' only after losing it." He concluded his message with the following:
"The mudflats have shared life and livelihood with us. All our lives help each other, and no life is unnecessary. A life of coexistence is inconvenient but noble. Thank you. We will protect well and coexist."
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