Overcoming the Hurdle After Four Years of Effort
1.697 Billion Won to Be Invested Upon Approval
Establishing a Hub for Ecology and Tourism
Jeollanam-do Province announced that the "Yeojaman National Marine Ecological Park Development Project" has been selected as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee.
If the project passes the preliminary feasibility study by the end of 2026, it will be developed as a national marine ecological hub with marine life conservation and ecological tourism functions from 2027 to 2031, with a total investment of 169.7 billion won.
Since there is no precedent for establishing a national marine ecological park in Korea, Jeollanam-do Province has spent the past four years revising the project plan dozens of times, preparing a plan with specificity and economic feasibility, and making every effort to persuade the government.
Jeollanam-do Province possesses the nation's longest coastline, tidal flats, and marine protected areas, giving it a comparative advantage in ecological resources. The province strongly emphasized the urgency and inevitability of the project due to habitat destruction caused by climate change, regional development conflicts, depletion of fishery resources, and a declining fishing population. As a result, it succeeded in gaining government support and achieving selection as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study.
The project area, encompassing Boseong and Suncheon, is an ecological treasure trove that includes 59.85 square kilometers of tidal flats designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2021, as well as Korea's largest salt marsh. It serves as a habitat for endangered species such as the hooded crane and the red-footed mud crab, and has been home to local residents who have coexisted with the sea for centuries.
The main components of the project, under the theme "Small Planet, Yeojaman! The Story of Coexistence Preserved by Nature and People," include: ▲establishing an integrated management center system for marine protected area ecosystems; ▲restoring tidal flats and expanding migratory bird habitats; ▲protecting salt marshes and endangered species, and providing educational facilities; ▲exhibiting the history of tidal flat conservation and the value of island and marine ecosystems; and ▲expanding infrastructure for both land and marine ecological exploration. The park is planned as a world-class ecological experience space for both local residents and tourists.
Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do Province, stated, "Yeojaman is the heart of Korea's ecology, and the selection of this project as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study is a valuable achievement made possible by the dedication and passion of Jeollanam-do residents. We will work closely with the government, Suncheon City, and Boseong County to ensure the project passes the preliminary feasibility study."
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