City Councilor Choi Bok-chun is urging Yangsan City to come up with measures regarding development and preservation. Photo by Hwang Doo-yeol bsb03296@
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] “For the first time, our city name ‘Yangsan’ has been attached to the name of an animal, and I just couldn’t let it pass by.”
A local council member is these days “desperately” trying to protect a cute and charming species, even going so far as to call it “historic.” This is Choi Bok-chun, a council member of Yangsan City. The species he is trying to protect is the ‘Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander’.
Because of this adorable species, Councilman Choi is living a life akin to “a moment feeling like three years” with symposiums, media plays, and contacts with Yangsan City.
It is a complete misconception to assume that he has extensive experience in environmental activism. He holds a Ph.D. in Technology Business Policy, studied economics, trade, and global policy, and was an executive at a general construction company, so it is more accurate to see him as a ‘development advocate.’ However, he has recently transformed into an ‘environmentalist.’ What draws attention is that he pursues a unique environmental policy based on development, preservation, and coexistence.
On the 11th, Councilman Choi led the Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander International Symposium and has become a hot “insider” in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, by participating in various media interviews.
His concluding argument is that since the animal is on the brink of extinction, Yangsan City must take action and prepare countermeasures.
In an interview, Councilman Choi emphasized the significance of the salamander bearing the proper noun ‘Yangsan’ and repeatedly stressed that it is time for the city to step up to protect an eco-friendly Yangsan. His argument differs somewhat from simply calling for a halt to development.
On the 11th, Councilman Choi held the ‘Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander International Symposium’ at the Yangsan City Council.
He said, “I hope this symposium will serve as an opportunity to inform many people about the salamander issue in the Sasong area and to find solutions through discussions involving Korea Land and Housing Corporation officials, civic groups, and city officials.”
LH, which was building apartments in the Sasong New Town as part of a land development project, halted construction for about two months in April 2020 after the ‘Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander’ was discovered on the construction site. Since then, in February, LH created 31 temporary spawning sites to address the issue.
Councilman Choi said, “While I acknowledge LH’s efforts to halt construction and create temporary spawning sites, the environment of these sites has not been properly established.”
According to local environmental groups, most of the temporary spawning sites are not functioning properly due to issues such as dried-up water, a 1-meter drop in the water fall, wire mesh holding stones on the bottom, and steep slopes.
Choi said, “The current situation is extremely urgent. According to Professor Amael Volche of Nanjing Forestry University in China, who named the species with the proper noun Yangsan in its scientific name, these salamanders, barely surviving through the winter, may disappear from the earth forever.”
He added, “If the environment of the temporary spawning sites is slightly modified, the salamanders can be protected, but it seems that communication among experts is not properly taking place.”
Given that apartment construction in the Sasong area is nearing completion, Councilman Choi argues that city-level intervention is urgent.
Choi said, “Once LH obtains the completion permit and leaves, there will be no way to restore the destroyed spawning sites,” and added, “The temporary spawning sites must be remodeled soon to create ‘alternative habitats.’”
He said, “Typically, environmental groups are seen as opposing, and when it comes to salamanders, people think of Monk Ji-yul of Cheonseongsan and view the political sphere negatively. To protect the salamander, a precious asset of eco-friendly Yangsan, we must break down prejudices and approach the problem together.”
Choi emphasized, “Whether animals, local governments, companies, or environmental groups, I want to protect eco-friendly Yangsan by coexisting without confrontation.”
Two species of salamanders, the Gori Salamander and the Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander, inhabit the Sasong area, where a new town is being developed through land development projects. The Gori Salamander is a second-class endangered species and is classified as Endangered (EN) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
The Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander was first discovered in 2014 by a research team from Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine and was identified as a distinct species different from the Korean Tail-striped Salamander.
Professor Amael Volche of Nanjing Forestry University in China, who attended the symposium via real-time video conference from Hwaseong, said, “Although the Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander has not undergone a review due to the short period since its species registration, it is expected to be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List.”
Choi said, “Professor Amael Volche predicts that if an alternative habitat for the Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander is not quickly established, extinction could begin as early as this fall,” urging Yangsan City, developers, environmental activists, and the world to unite their efforts.
The Yangsan Tail-striped Salamander is not included in the procedures for the partial amendment of the ‘Wildlife Protection and Management Act Enforcement Rules’ and thus was not listed on the Ministry of Environment’s endangered wildlife list announced for public comment on September 6.
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