Busan Selected as a Candidate Site for UNESCO Global Geopark

20 Sites of Busan Geopark Including Nakdonggang Estuary, Taejongdae, Geumjeongsan, Mowundae, and Igidae
UNESCO Certification Pursued in 2023 ... World Geoscience Congress to Be Held in Busan in 2024

Current Status of Geological Sites in Busan Pursuing UNESCO Global Geopark Certification.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Busan, including representative tourist attractions such as Taejongdae, has been selected as a candidate site for the UNESCO Global Geopark.

According to Busan City, the "Busan National Geopark" was notified by the Ministry of Environment on the 21st that it has been selected as a domestic candidate site for applying for UNESCO Global Geopark certification.

The "UNESCO Global Geopark" is a place managed for the protection, education, and sustainable development of sites and landscapes with global geological value. In Korea, there are four such sites: Jeju Island, Cheongsong, Mudeungsan, and Hantangang.

The geological sites in Busan selected as candidates this time include 20 locations such as the Nakdong River Estuary, Geumjeongsan, Taejongdae, and Oryukdo.

Busan City plans to lay the foundation for hosting the "International Geological Congress" in 2024 through UNESCO Global Geopark certification.

The "International Geological Congress" is hosted by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and has been held every four years since the first congress in 1878. It is an international event attended by about 6,000 people, including geology experts, government officials, and NGO representatives from over 120 countries.

The IGC Busan meeting will be held from August 25 to August 31, 2024.

Byun Sung-wan, Acting Mayor of Busan, said, "Despite being a large city, Busan has geological sites distributed throughout the city encompassing rivers, mountains, and the sea, giving it an advantage in geological diversity," and added, "Let us join forces to successfully host the International Geological Congress in August 2024, upgrade Busan's geopark into a world-class tourist resource, and prepare sustainable utilization plans."

Busan City submitted the UNESCO Global Geopark application in September 2021, and after an on-site inspection by UNESCO verification committee members in July 2022, plans to receive official certification in April 2023.

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