Strengthening Public-Private Cooperation and Pursuing World Natural Heritage
Accelerating the Development of Korea's Leading Marine Ecological Hub
Chungnam Province has officially launched a strategy to develop Garorim Bay, which was designated as Korea's first National Marine Ecological Park, into a globally recognized hub for marine ecology.
The province is accelerating the project with two main pillars: pursuing UNESCO World Natural Heritage inscription and making a renewed attempt at passing a preliminary feasibility study worth 120 billion won.
On December 23, Jeon Sangwook, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Bureau of Chungnam Province, held a press conference at the provincial government press center and outlined next year's major plans for Garorim Bay: strengthening public-private cooperation, pursuing UNESCO World Natural Heritage inscription, and passing the preliminary feasibility study worth 120 billion won.
Garorim Bay was designated as the first National Marine Ecological Park by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on December 2. It was also highlighted as a core strategy for Chungnam Province during a recent presidential town hall meeting, drawing attention from the central government.
Building on this momentum, the province aims to develop Garorim Bay into a National Marine Ecological Park that attracts visitors from across the country.
The province will form an official consultative body involving local residents and experts to strengthen public-private cooperation, and will work with the international nonprofit environmental organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to balance marine ecological conservation with sustainable use.
Next year, joint projects will include monitoring spotted seals, conservation projects utilizing abandoned salt fields, and marine ecology education programs.
The province is targeting the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, which will be held in Busan in July next year, for the UNESCO World Natural Heritage inscription.
Four local governments, including Garorim Bay, have applied for inscription. Garorim Bay is playing a key role as a hub for expanding the heritage area to the southern part of Gyeonggi Bay.
The province expects that successful inscription will greatly boost marine ecological tourism and enhance the national profile.
The renewed attempt at the 120 billion won preliminary feasibility study is supported by the designation as a National Marine Ecological Park and the pursuit of World Heritage status, providing a strong rationale at the national level.
Since April, the province has been conducting research to reinforce the necessity of marine ecological restoration and to strengthen policy and economic arguments.
The main strategies include conserving marine spaces and biodiversity encompassing both marine and coastal areas, as well as promoting sustainable use through experience and education programs such as the Spotted Seal Ocean Classroom and Tidal Flat Ecology School.
Additionally, the province will pursue projects such as creating tidal flat ecological trails and linking them with existing tidal flat ecological village initiatives in Jungwang and Wangsang villages.
Director Jeon Sangwook stated, "With the designation as the first National Marine Ecological Park, we will accelerate our efforts to make Garorim Bay a true national hub for marine ecology."
Meanwhile, according to the 2023 National Marine Ecosystem Comprehensive Survey, Garorim Bay has the highest number of large benthic species in the country and is recognized as a marine area with outstanding biodiversity, where endangered waterbirds such as the Chinese egret and the black-faced spoonbill coexist.
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