4 More Korean Tidal Flats Expected to Join UNESCO World Heritage Site

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- Four more South Korean tidal flats are expected to be added to an existing UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, cultural heritage authorities said Monday. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an advisory body for UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, has recommended the expanded inscription of "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats Phase II," according to the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). The recommendation covers four additional areas that would expand the existing World Heritage site. The original site was first inscribed in 2021 under the name "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats," featuring four coastal wetlands recognized for their rich biodiversity and ecological significance. The four new areas are located in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province and in Goheung, Muan and Yeosu of South Jeolla Province. If approved, the boundary of the existing UNESCO-listed Korean tidal flats will be expanded to span the southern and western coastal wetlands. The KHS plans to regroup the expanded heritage site into six designated areas. The final fate of the nomination will be decided at the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled for July in the southeastern South Korean city of Busan. UNESCO World Heritage sites are classified into cultural, natural and mixed heritage. Advisory bodies, such as the IUCN and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), evaluate member states' nominations, issuing one of several recommendations: inscription, referral, deferral or non-inscription. Sites that receive an "inscription" recommendation are highly likely to be approved. The expanded listing would further highlight the ecological value of Korea's tidal flats, which serve as critical habitats for migratory birds and marine life, according to KHS officials. South Korea currently has 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Seokguram Grotto, Bulguk Temple and Jongmyo Shrine. Most recently, the petroglyphs along the Bangu Stream were added to the World Heritage list last year. The country plans to seek inscription next year for the "Capital Fortifications of Hanyang," a system of defensive walls built to protect Hanyang, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and present-day Seoul.