Naming of the Natural Monument Korean Goral 'Yongmadol-i' Inhabiting Yongmasan, Jungnang-gu

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is actively working to raise awareness and protect the Korean goral (San-yang) of Yongmasan, a natural monument living in the urban area that has attracted nationwide attention.

In 2018, the Korean goral, a critically endangered natural monument, was first discovered on Yongmasan in Jungnang-gu, drawing public interest. Last November, during the filming of the ‘Jungnang Today’ Yongmasan episode on Jungnang-gu’s internet broadcasting station, the goral’s activity was accidentally captured, reigniting nationwide attention and focus on the Yongmasan goral.

The district has launched various initiatives to promote the Yongmasan goral and increase Jungnang-gu residents’ empathy and interest in protecting the goral and preserving the natural ecological environment.

First, a naming contest for the ‘Jungnang-gu Yongmasan Goral’ was held through six SNS platforms including blogs, Facebook, and Instagram.

A total of 913 entries such as Yongmadungi and Yongrangi were submitted. After evaluation, ‘Yongmadoli’ was selected as the final name. Yongmadoli symbolizes the strong place name of Yongma (龍馬) Mountain and the goral’s toughness, while also being friendly and easy for children to approach, which earned it high marks during the judging process.

Additionally, an event inviting viewers to leave comments after watching the ‘Jungnang Today Yongmasan episode’ video featuring vivid footage of the goral’s activities was held. As of February 3, a total of 512 comments had been posted, continuing to receive enthusiastic responses from netizens.

The Korean goral is designated as Natural Monument No. 217 and is a critically endangered species. Due to a sharp decline in population, restoration projects have been underway since 2006 by the National Park Service’s Species Restoration Technology Institute.

Experts explain that the appearance of this precious animal on Yongmasan in Jungnang-gu is due to the goral’s habitat preference for forests with steep, rocky cliffs, and that the abundant water and rock formations of Yongma Waterfall Park provide ideal living conditions.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, stated, “The presence of the critically endangered natural monument Korean goral on Yongmasan is proof that Jungnang-gu’s natural ecology is well preserved.” He added, “We will continue to nurture and protect the green spaces and parks, which cover 40% of the district’s area, including Yongmasan, Mangusan, Bonghwasan, and Jungnangcheon, to create an eco-friendly green city where nature and people coexist.”

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