UNESCO On-Site Inspection Postponed Until Next Month
Mayor Yoo Jeongbok: "Seeking Diplomatic Solutions"
The process of designating Baengnyeongdo and Daecheongdo, the northernmost islands in the West Sea, as a UNESCO Global Geopark has been halted due to an objection filed by North Korea.
According to Incheon City on May 23, North Korea submitted a written objection to UNESCO on May 19 regarding the designation of Baengnyeong and Daecheong as a Global Geopark.
Under UNESCO procedures, if a member state files an objection during the application process for Global Geopark designation, scientific evaluation is suspended, and the parties involved are required to resolve the issue among themselves. As a result, the UNESCO on-site inspection of Baengnyeong and Daecheong-myeon and the surrounding maritime area, which was scheduled for next month, has been put on hold.
Incheon City submitted an application for candidacy as a UNESCO Global Geopark to the Ministry of Environment in 2023, and the area was finally selected as a domestic candidate site in February last year. Subsequently, in November last year, the city submitted the official application for designation to UNESCO, and in accordance with Global Geopark regulations, a three-month review by member states was conducted from February this year.
The area for which the city applied for Global Geopark designation includes 66 square kilometers of land in Baengnyeong-myeon (Baengnyeongdo) and Daecheong-myeon (Daecheongdo and Socheongdo) in Ongjin County, as well as 161 square kilometers of surrounding maritime area.
Despite its small size, the region boasts outstanding natural scenery and a wealth of geological heritage that rivals global natural heritage sites. Its unique geological characteristics and geographic location, distinct from the mainland, provide clues to the evolutionary history of the East Asian crust. Notably, the area contains rocks from the Neoproterozoic era, dating back 1 billion to 700 million years, which are rarely observed on the Korean Peninsula. The oldest stromatolites (fossils formed by cyanobacteria activity) in Korea have also been discovered here.
During the on-site inspection scheduled for next month, UNESCO evaluators were to review the application and self-assessment report submitted in November last year. The reasons for North Korea's objection have not been disclosed.
On May 22, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeongbok held a press conference and stated, "Although the reason for North Korea's objection has not been made public, it is highly likely that it is an attempt to undermine the NLL (Northern Limit Line), which is clearly our maritime territory."
Mayor Yoo added, "To resume the Global Geopark designation process for Baengnyeong and Daecheong, we will work with the government to identify the specific grounds for North Korea's objection and seek a diplomatic resolution." He also expressed his willingness to "meet directly with North Korean authorities to discuss solutions to this issue if necessary."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment, which is the responsible ministry, stated that it will respond after identifying the reasons for North Korea's objection through diplomatic channels. It is reported that, as of now, the government has only been notified of the fact that North Korea has filed an objection.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas of significant geological value that are specially managed to protect geological sites and landscapes, provide education on climate change and geological hazards, and promote sustainable development. Currently, there are 195 Global Geoparks in 48 countries, and five sites in Korea, including Jejudo and Cheongsong, have received Global Geopark certification.
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