Incheon City Holds UNESCO Certification TF Meeting for Baengnyeong and Daecheong Geoparks... Application Next Year

Incheon City has begun full-scale preparations for the UNESCO Global Geopark certification of Baengnyeong and Daecheong in Ongjin-gun National Geopark.

On the 21st, the city announced that on the 19th, it formed a 'Special Task Force (TF) for Baengnyeong and Daecheong Global Geopark Certification' with related organizations such as Ongjin-gun and the Korea Polar Research Institute and held its first meeting. The meeting discussed cooperation to enhance awareness among Baengnyeong and Daecheong residents, meet the certification requirements for the Global Geopark, and revitalize the local economy and tourism.

To receive UNESCO Global Geopark certification, the site must pass evaluation criteria including identification of international value, collaborative projects involving community members, and educational activities related to cultural heritage.

Accordingly, the city plans to establish a cooperative system with related organizations to thoroughly prepare for the certification evaluation. If the Ministry of Environment selects Baengnyeong and Daecheong National Geopark as a candidate site for the Global Geopark, the city intends to formally submit an application to UNESCO next year. Following this, the goal is to obtain final approval in 2026 after evaluations by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the UNESCO assessment team in 2025.

Baengnyeongdo Dumujin
[Photo provided by Incheon City]

UNESCO Global Geoparks are special areas that protect sites and landscapes of high geological value worldwide and manage them for climate change and geological disaster education as well as sustainable development. Currently, there are 195 sites in 48 countries, and South Korea has five certified Global Geoparks, including Jeju Island and Cheongsong.

Baengnyeong, Daecheong, and Socheong Islands, located in the West Sea Five Islands and the northwesternmost point, cover a small area of 66 km² but feature outstanding scenery and numerous geological heritages comparable to global natural heritage sites. Due to their unique geological characteristics and geographical location distinct from the mainland, they hold clues to the evolutionary process of the East Asian crust and were designated as a National Geopark in July 2019.

In June, Incheon City expanded the park area and geological sites in the candidate application submitted to the Ministry of Environment. The geopark area now includes the marine environment closely related to island life, and the number of geological sites within the geopark increased from 10 to 20 (9 in Baengnyeong, 6 in Daecheong, and 5 in Socheong).

Socheongdo Bunbawi Photo by Incheon City