"Natural heritage" means natural objects, such as animals, plants, topography, and geological features, or any cultural heritage created by interactions with the natural environment.
The following is a guide to cultural heritage such as representative Plants, Animals, Geology, and Natural Landscapes.
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Explore Plants
Among Korea’s natural heritage, plants are designated and protected as Natural Monuments. Initially, this designation focused on old and large trees (nogeosu), which are ancient and significant. Even today, old trees are the most frequently designated Natural Monuments, though there are also village forests, rare plants, unique habitats, and forests of significant value.
Plants that qualify as natural heritage in Korea include species native to the country, plants closely tied to the lives of the Korean people as seen in literature and historical records, those with scientific value due to their distribution, species that thrive in special environments, habitats of rare animals, trees and forests that contribute to beautiful landscapes, and plants that are the largest, oldest, or rarest in Korea.
Explore Animals
Animals are another category of Korea’s natural heritage and are protected as Natural Monuments, along with their habitats, breeding grounds, and migratory bird sites.
When designating animals, habitats, or breeding and migratory grounds as natural heritage, several criteria are considered. These include animals native to Korea, those with cultural significance based on historical records, species living in unique environments, animals or regions of scientific value in ecology or genetics, and species that have become extinct in Korea but are considered worth preserving or restoring.
Examples of protected habitats include the Great Spotted Woodpecker’s habitat in Gwangneung, Gyeonggi-do, the freshwater eel’s habitat in Cheonjiyeon, Jeju, and the camellia forest and fairy pitta breeding ground in Hakdong-ri, Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do. Notable migratory bird sites include the lower Nakdong River and Cheorwon in Gangwon-do. In a unique case, part of the East Sea is protected as the migration route of the gray whale, to safeguard this endangered species.
Among the animals designated as natural heritage, birds make up the largest group, followed by a few mammals, fish, and insects. Notable examples include the musk deer, Korean goral, otter, flying squirrel, and spotted seal. Domesticated animals like the Jindo dog, Sapsaree, and Jeju horse are also included, along with rare species like the long-horned beetle, yellow croaker of the Han River, and the oreumchi fish of the Geum River.
Explore Geology and Minerals
Geology and minerals in Korea are protected as Natural Monuments, and these can be further categorized into landforms, geological formations, caves, fossils, and rocks.
Several criteria are used to designate geological features and formations as natural heritage. These include formations that are significant for understanding crustal movement, those important for interpreting geological processes, unique sedimentary or metamorphic rock formations, index fossils that represent specific geological periods, and fossils of exceptional value.
Notable geological and mineral heritage sites include Sungnyugul Cave in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gimnyeonggul and Manjanggul Caves in Jeju, the Cretaceous sedimentary structures in Gyeongnam, the volcanic tuff layers at Suwolbong in Jeju, the spherical granite in Unpyeong-ri, Sangju, and the dinosaur egg fossil site in Gojeong-ri, Hwaseong.
Explore Scenic, Historical, and Cultural Landscapes
Korea’s scenic landscapes, part of its natural heritage, are protected as Scenic Sites (myeongsung), which refers to places of outstanding natural beauty. These scenic sites are categorized into three types.
The first type is natural scenic sites, featuring stunning views of nature. These include beautiful mountains, rivers, wetlands, and coasts, as well as habitats or plant communities that offer scenic beauty, such as Haegeumgang in Geoje, Gyeongnam, Beopseongjin Forest in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, and Suncheon Bay.
The second type is historical and cultural scenic sites, where nature is enhanced by cultural elements. These include gardens or wonlim (Korean traditional gardens) built with pavilions, places shaped by human activity such as terraced fields and reservoirs, and landscapes that harmonize with temples or Confucian academies. Notable examples include the Myeongokheon Garden in Damyang, Gacheon Village Terraced Fields in Namhae, and the Hwaeomsa Temple area in Jirisan.
The third type is composite scenic sites, where natural beauty is combined with cultural or literary value. These places are linked to historical events, famous figures, or legends. Examples include Dodamsambong in Danyang, which is tied to the legend of Jeong Dojeon, and Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, associated with the tragic history of King Danjong.
Scenic landscapes offer natural beauty that can be appreciated without in-depth knowledge, and many are located near cities like Seoul, making them easily accessible. While Natural Monuments require careful preservation, scenic sites allow visitors to see, feel, and experience the value of Korea’s natural heritage.
Explore Natural Reserves
Certain areas of Korea’s natural heritage are designated as Natural Reserves, which protect unique natural phenomena with historical significance, beautiful landscapes, or sites of great geological or scientific importance. Natural reserves often encompass broader regions, so they may include other natural heritage sites such as designated Natural Monuments, scenic landscapes, and species habitats.
Currently, Korea has 11 Natural Reserves, including Dokdo, Seongsan Ilchulbong, Upo Wetland in Changnyeong, Seoraksan, Hongdo, Hallasan, Marado, Chagwido, Munseom and Beomseom, Hyangnobong and Geonbongsan, and Daemasan and Daewusan.
