Gochang-gun Recruiting Participants for 'Firefly Ecotour'

Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk announced on the 5th that it will recruit participants for the "Firefly Ecotour" at Ungok Ramsar Wetland from the 12th to the 16th.

This event, organized by the Gochang-gun Ecotourism Residents' Social Cooperative (Chairman Kim Daewon), includes ecological interpretation of fireflies and a hands-on experience of making fireflies using silkworm cocoons.

Recruitment Poster for Firefly Ecotour Participants at UnGok Ramsar Wetland, Gochang.
[Photo by Gochang-gun]

After the experience, participants will share promises to protect the fireflies and go trekking through the firefly habitats within the Ungok Wetland.

The program runs from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. During the program, the use of lights that could disturb the fireflies' mating should be minimized as much as possible.

Also, to protect the firefly habitats and minimize disturbance to their spawning activities, the number of participants is limited to about 25 people per day through prior registration, totaling around 130 people over five days, and there is a participation fee.

Fireflies, commonly called Gaettongbeolle (fireflies), can be seen at Ungok Ramsar Wetland every June and July as "Aebanbitbul-i" (early fireflies), and in September as late fireflies.

The county is conducting various activities such as restoring rice paddy ridges, removing invasive plants in the wetland, and environmental cleanup together with residents of villages around the wetland to protect firefly habitats and conserve the wetland.

In particular, through projects like rice paddy ridge restoration, the wetland has been restored and the habitats for wetland ecological flora and fauna have been expanded, greatly contributing to ecosystem conservation. Currently, about 850 species inhabit the Ungok Wetland.

Oh Misook, Director of the Tourism Industry Division of Gochang-gun, said, "I hope people can naturally learn about the beautiful and pristine nature and ecological value of Ungok Wetland while enjoying the Firefly Ecotour," and added, "We will continue to work with residents to conserve the wetland so that many people can meet fireflies for a long time."

Gochang = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Jaegil baekok@asiae.co.kr

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