At the Ecological Halophyte Garden of Taepyeong Salt Farm in Jeungdo, Sinan County, South Jeolla Province, hamcho (salicornia) and glasswort turn red in autumn. Hamcho and glasswort are annual plants that grow in salty mudflats and wetlands. Hamcho, green in its early growth, turns red in autumn, and glasswort flowers bloom from August to September and gradually turn purple./Courtesy of Yonhap

The government designated the first "national marine ecological park" in Korea, a project that advances both marine ecosystem conservation and tourism. It aims to increase annual visitors to 10 million by 2030 and strengthen marine ecosystem conservation.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the "strategy to designate and operate national marine ecological parks" at an economic ministers' meeting on the 2nd. The four areas designated as the nation's first national marine ecological parks are Garorim Bay in South Chungcheong, the tidal flats in Sinan and Muan in South Jeolla, Yeoja Bay in South Jeolla, and the Homiggot Peninsula in North Gyeongsang.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), Garorim Bay is a habitat for spotted seals, the tidal flats of Sinan and Muan are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, Yeoja Bay is a stopover for migratory birds, and the Homiggot Peninsula is a habitat for marine protected species such as Zostera caulescens.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) assessed that existing marine protected areas were run with a focus on restrictions, limiting their expansion. An MOF official said, "As demand for ecotourism, including tidal flat experiences, has increased recently and local governments have pushed for development, we introduced the 'national marine ecological park system' to advance conservation and tourism together."

National marine ecological parks will be equipped with marine observation facilities to closely monitor changes in the marine environment, as well as exhibition, hands-on, and exploration facilities. Job growth is expected through training local experts, and linking ecotourism with workation (remote work while on vacation) products is projected to boost the regional economy.

Minister Jeon Jae-su of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) said, "We will foster national marine ecological parks as hubs for revitalizing local economies and build a virtuous-cycle model that achieves both ecosystem conservation and local economic revitalization at the same time."

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