East Coast and Baekdusan Granted UNESCO Global Geopark Status

With Yeongdeok County, Pohang City, Gyeongju City, and Uljin County
East Coast Geopark, a Treasure Trove of World Natural Heritage

Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province, announced on the 14th that the 'Gyeongbuk East Coast UNESCO Global Geopark (area: 2,693.69 km², covering Pohang, Gyeongju, Yeongdeok, and Uljin)' was approved at the 221st UNESCO Executive Board meeting held in Paris, France, on the night of the 10th (local time). The park will officially be granted UNESCO Global Geopark status through an official notification from UNESCO on the 17th.

The Daegjinri Gneiss Formation in Yeongdeok County, located in the UNESCO Global Geopark on the East Coast.

This designation is significant as it marks the first time that two of the Korean Peninsula's representative geological heritages?together with Mount Baekdu in North Korea?have both been recognized as UNESCO Global Geoparks. It highlights the international community's simultaneous acknowledgment of the geological value of the peninsula's natural heritage.

Following Cheongsong in 2017, this is the second UNESCO Global Geopark designation in the region. It serves as an opportunity to showcase to the world that the geological resources of the Gyeongbuk East Coast are globally recognized natural heritage.

The UNESCO Global Geopark program evaluates not only geological value but also the integration with ecological, historical, and cultural resources, community cooperation, and sustainable management systems in a comprehensive manner.

The Gyeongbuk East Coast Geopark is recognized for its outstanding academic, educational, and tourism value, featuring the largest Cenozoic fossil site on the Korean Peninsula, major traces of East Asia's tectonic framework formation and magmatism, and diverse geological landscapes.

This designation was finalized after submitting a letter of intent to UNESCO in June 2023, an on-site evaluation by UNESCO in July 2024 (by Greek and Indonesian assessors), and passing the review of the Global Geoparks Council held in Cao Bang, Vietnam, in September 2024.

During this process, Yeongdeok County, with support from North Gyeongsang Province, collaborated with Pohang City, Gyeongju City, and Uljin County, centering on the dedicated 'East Coast Geopark Secretariat.' They operated the Gyeongbuk East Coast Geopark Center (located in Uljin County), expanded visitor infrastructure such as information centers, trails, and signboards, ran geological education and experience programs, and built a foundation for meeting UNESCO designation criteria through cooperation with local residents and institutions.

County Governor Kim Kwangyeol stated, "This is the result of ten years of efforts by North Gyeongsang Province and local residents of the four cities and counties, starting with the application for National Geopark status in 2015." He added, "With the inscription as a UNESCO Global Geopark, we will focus on establishing national ecological trails and fostering eco-tourism areas to revitalize the region."