Busan Also Produces 'Nature Environment Interpreters'

Nakdonggang Estuary Eco Center Designated as Busan's First Natural Environment Interpreter Training Institution

Status of National Natural Environment Interpreter Training Institutions. A new institution has been established in Busan City, and it will produce professionals starting next year.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Busan City has established its first institution for training natural environment interpreters.

The Nakdong River Estuary Eco Center of the Nakdong River Management Headquarters in Busan City has been selected as a ‘Natural Environment Interpreter Training Institution’ designated by the Ministry of Environment. Applicants, who previously had to travel to places like Gyeongnam, Ulsan, and Jeju to obtain certification, can now do so more conveniently.

The Natural Environment Interpreter Training Institution plays a role in training professionals who provide natural environment interpretation, promotion, and ecological exploration guidance to the public using ecological and scenic conservation areas, wetland protection areas, and natural parks, in accordance with Article 59 of the Natural Environment Conservation Act. The Ministry of Environment has been designating such institutions since 2012.

Busan City anticipated an increase in demand for natural environment interpreters as various eco-tourism activities are expected to flourish following its designation as an international tourism city. Additionally, with growing public interest in natural ecological services due to COVID-19, the city has been pursuing designation as a natural environment interpreter training institution.

After submitting the application to the Ministry of Environment in April, and undergoing document and on-site evaluations, the center was designated as a training institution on the 17th. Starting next year, the city plans to recruit applicants and produce natural environment interpreters.

As the first institution in the Busan area, the inconvenience of education seekers having to travel to other regions has been eliminated.

Applicants complete an 80-hour training course operated by the Eco Center, then pass the first written exam and the second interpretation demonstration evaluation to receive the final certificate, which grants the qualification of natural environment interpreter.

Upon completion of the training, graduates can find employment as interpreters at ecological learning centers such as the Korea National Park Service, affiliated organizations of the Ministry of Environment, and the Eco Center.

Yeo Un-cheol, head of the Nakdong River Management Headquarters in Busan City, said, “This designation as a training institution will help raise awareness of the importance of natural environment conservation among eco-tourists and citizens, and provide high-quality ecological environment interpretation services.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.