Over 4,000 Species Inhabit... Gangwon-do Promotes Designation of 'Cheorwon Seongjaesan and Yongyangbo National Wetlands' as Provincial Parks

UNESCO Designates as 'Biosphere Reserve'
DMZ, Natural Parks, and Ecotourism Synergy Effects
Creating Resident Income and Regional Economic Growth Models

Yongyangbo Wetland [Cheorwon-gun]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gangwon Province and Cheorwon County are promoting the designation of a new provincial park in the Seongjaesan Mountain area of Kimhwa-eup and Yongyangbo, which possess the largest ecological capital on the Korean Peninsula and the best viewing rights of the central front DMZ.

The Seongjaesan Mountain and Yongyangbo area in Cheorwon are located between the civilian control zone and the DMZ, and are recognized domestically and internationally for their ecological and historical value.

Since 2016, exploration programs have been operated through the 'DMZ Ecological Peace Park,' and in 2019, the area was also designated as a 'UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.'

On the 22nd, the province announced, "Together with Cheorwon County, we have completed administrative procedures such as feasibility study services, public hearings with residents, and consultations with central administrative agencies to designate the 'Cheorwon DMZ Ecological Peace Park' as a legal provincial park."

The province plans to prepare separate measures and gather opinions from stakeholders to ensure that there are no restrictions on property rights, such as compulsory purchase or park area adjustments, for some private lands included in the park area due to the legal provincial park designation.

In particular, the province intends to promote new environmental and forestry policies that maximize the unique ecological and forest resource characteristics of Gangwon Province, linking them to regional economic revitalization and income generation for residents.

Meanwhile, the 'DMZ Ecological Peace Park' was established from 2013 to 2016 for the purpose of inter-Korean cooperation projects, to promote the excellent ecological resources of the war, peace, and DMZ areas.

The 'UNESCO Biosphere Reserve' is a site selected by UNESCO for regions worldwide that possess outstanding ecosystems, where local communities and residents participate in conserving biodiversity and pursuing sustainable development.

Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province, said, "Through this provincial park designation, I will do my best during the remainder of my term to transform Cheorwon and the five peace regions of Gangwon Province from tragic spaces born of over 70 years of military confrontation into a special zone of humanity that the whole world should share in valuing?focusing on conservation and utilization, exchange and cooperation, peace and prosperity."

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