Shinan's 'Daffodil Island Seondo' Dreams of Becoming the First Mudflat National Park

Scheduled Visits to Central Government Ministries and Local Constituency Lawmakers for National Park Designation

Narcissus flowers are in full bloom on Seondo, Jido-eup, Sinan-gun. (Photo by Sinan-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Park Woo-ryang) announced on the 5th that on the 2nd, about 30 local residents including Park Sung-wook, chairman of the Seondo Mudflat National Park Promotion Committee, held a ‘Progress Report Meeting on the Designation of Jido Seondo Mudflat National Park’ at the Seondo Fishermen’s Shelter in Jido-eup.

The background of this progress report meeting is that the Ministry of Environment is conducting the 3rd feasibility study for national parks, and Seondo residents submitted a petition to Sinan-gun on September 10 last year requesting the inclusion of Jido Seondo mudflats in the national park.

While promoting the Seondo Mudflat National Park, there have been negative opinions from central government agencies regarding the inclusion of mudflat areas in the national park. This meeting was organized to discuss the current progress and future response plans with the Promotion Committee.

Park Sung-wook, chairman of the Seondo Mudflat National Park Promotion Committee, said, “Currently, the Seondo mudflats have been designated as a mudflat provincial park under the Natural Parks Act since February 2018, and in September 2018, it was expanded as a wetland protection area under the Wetland Conservation Act.” He added, “If the mudflat provincial park is designated as a national park, only the management authority will change from the Governor of Jeollanam-do to the Minister of Environment, and activity restrictions will remain the same. We hope that the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will jointly manage mudflat resources and provide budget support.”

Going forward, the Promotion Committee plans to collaborate with the local member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party’s Seo Sam-seok), related organizations (Jeollanam-do, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, etc.), and hold meetings with officials from relevant ministries (Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) to ensure the designation of Jido Seondo mudflats as a national park.

Seondo in Jido-eup is a small island located 20 minutes by ferry from Garryong Ferry Terminal in Amhae-eup, famous as the island of daffodils blooming all year round, a key policy of the 7th local government administration.

It was also designated as a “desired island to visit” by Jeollanam-do in 2020, producing and selling aquaculture resources such as stake-cultured laver (gopchang gim), gamtae seaweed, mud octopus, and eco-friendly agricultural and marine products, thereby increasing residents’ income.

Despite inconvenient maritime transportation conditions, the first Daffodil Festival held in 2019 attracted about 20,000 visitors, giving a miraculous gift to the small and modest island village residents.

Governor Park Woo-ryang stated, “We will do our best to have the Seondo mudflats designated as a national park,” and added, “We expect the role of the Promotion Committee and will provide administrative support in step with them.”

Meanwhile, the Seondo Mudflat National Park Promotion Committee, together with the Seondo fishing cooperative, continues monthly marine cleanup activities and plans to hold a commemorative ceremony when it is designated as the first mudflat national park.

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