Ecological Havens 'Coastal Sand Dunes' Disappearing... Warning Signs of 'Land Loss'

A Total of 189 Nationwide, but Only 6 Managed by Government and Local Authorities
Seo Samsuk: "Urgent Need to Revise Laws and Systems for Preservation and Management"

Seosamsuk, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker.

There are growing calls for measures to address the damage to coastal sand dunes, which are formed by wind and serve as both protectors of the coastline and vital ecological habitats, due to the absence of management standards.

According to materials submitted to the National Assembly audit by Seosamsuk, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker representing Yeongam, Muan, and Shinan in South Jeolla Province, on October 17, the current status of coastal sand dunes in South Korea has not been accurately assessed as of this year. The most recent research was conducted in 2017, but even that was only a voluntary survey, not an official statistical study.

As of 2016, there were 189 coastal sand dunes in South Korea, with South Jeolla Province having the largest number at 58. This was followed by: South Chungcheong Province with 42, Gangwon Province with 30, Incheon with 18, Jeju Island with 14, North Gyeongsang Province with 12, North Jeolla Province with 7, Busan with 4, Gyeonggi Province with 2, and South Gyeongsang Province with 2. However, it was found that only 6 dunes, or about 3%, are actually being managed by the government and local authorities.

The lack of a lead supervisory agency has been cited as the main reason for poor management. Currently, the Ministry of Environment, the Cultural Heritage Administration, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries share some related responsibilities under different laws. However, none of these laws clearly specify the term "coastal sand dune," making integrated management impossible.

Although the Cultural Heritage Administration designated Sinduri Coastal Sand Dune as a cultural heritage site and invested 35.1 billion won in its preservation, there is still no detailed management manual for sand dunes, raising doubts about the effectiveness of these efforts. Notably, there have been no budget allocations for sand dunes in South Jeolla Province, where they are most prevalent.

As a result, the destruction of coastal sand dunes is worsening. Compared to the 1950s, the area of sand dunes had decreased by about 36.5% (29 square kilometers), from 79.4 square kilometers to 50.4 square kilometers, as of 2016. Since 2016, there have been no surveys, making it difficult to determine not only the current area but also the extent of the damage.

In fact, both coastal sand dunes in South Gyeongsang Province have disappeared since 2016. On Jeju Island, 82.4% of coastal sand dunes have been lost, and in some areas along the east coast, up to 42 meters of sandy beach have vanished, making land loss a reality.

Assemblyman Seo emphasized, "Coastal sand dunes play a variety of roles, serving as natural barriers that protect the coastline and hinterland, as freshwater reservoirs, and as habitats for rare flora and fauna, yet they are steadily disappearing. It is urgent to establish guidelines for preservation and management, revise usage guidelines to minimize damage, and above all, clarify which agency is responsible for their management."

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