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🇰🇷 South Korea /Environment & Climate

South Korea's National Parks: Protecting Half the Earth for Biodiversity

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The term 'national park' may be misleading, as its primary purpose is ecological protection, not public recreation, prompting calls for more direct terminology like 'nature reserve'.
  • The global '30x30' goal aims to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, building on biologist E.O. Wilson's call to conserve half the Earth to prevent mass extinction.
  • South Korea's protected areas, including national parks, cover 17.8% of land and 1.84% of sea, with efforts like the Asiatic black bear restoration project highlighting the need for expanded conservation zones.

The term 'national park' might be a misnomer, as these areas are designated for strict ecological preservation rather than public recreation, leading some to advocate for clearer terms like 'nature reserve.' This distinction is crucial in understanding their role in conservation efforts.

Globally, the "30x30" initiative, adopted in 2022, aims to designate 30% of the world's land and sea as protected areas by 2030. This ambitious goal is rooted in biologist E.O. Wilson's scientific proposal to conserve half the Earth's surface to avert a sixth mass extinction and ensure the survival of species. Wilson argued that such extensive conservation is necessary to stabilize ecosystems and protect biodiversity.

We must set aside half the planet or more as protected areas to save the biosphere and achieve the stability we need for our own survival.

— E.O. WilsonThe biologist's argument for extensive conservation, as cited in the article.

South Korea currently designates about 17.8% of its land and 1.84% of its maritime territory as protected areas. While national parks constitute 6.9% of the land, this figure expands when including other protected zones like provincial parks and special forest areas. The restoration project for the Asiatic black bear, an umbrella species crucial for maintaining the Jirisan ecosystem, exemplifies the importance of these protected areas. The government has established special protection zones within Jirisan National Park, implementing stricter regulations to safeguard the bears and their habitat.

Globally, all bear species have been listed as endangered since 1979. In South Korea, wild bears were thought to have disappeared after a capture in Seoraksan National Park in 1983, with numbers only recently increasing to around 100 through restoration efforts since 2004. The practice of farming bears for medicinal purposes has also been outlawed. While captive bears cannot be released into the wild, expanding protected areas for restored bears and other endangered species like the Asiatic black bear, musk deer, foxes, otters, and various amphibians and insects is vital. This expansion of protected zones, coupled with the cessation of bear farming, is directly linked to the global effort to save all life on Earth from extinction.

The 30x30 goal is a realistic compromise and a concrete step for action.

— Park Ki-yongThe author explains the significance of the 30x30 goal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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