Final approval granted at the 48th World Heritage Committee session, expanding the scope of “Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats”

Yeosu City (Mayor Seo Young-hak) announced that the Yeosu tidal flats in Yeoja Bay have been newly included as a component of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats,” following the successful second-phase extension of the listing.

The expansion was officially approved on the 25th at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, marking a significant step in broadening the scope of the existing World Heritage property “Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats.”

Along with the Yeosu tidal flats, the tidal flats of Goheung, Muan, and Seosan were newly added, and the boundaries of the existing heritage property were also extended. As a result, “Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats” now consists of a serial property made up of six zones.

The World Heritage Committee highly recognized “Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats” as a natural heritage property of outstanding value for biodiversity conservation, including the protection of endangered species. It also noted the site’s importance as a key habitat within the Yellow Sea coastal ecosystem and along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.

Previously, in 2021, the tidal flats of Seocheon, Gochang, Shinan, and Boseong-Suncheon were inscribed in the first phase. At the time, the World Heritage Committee indicated the need for a further extension in order to strengthen the integrity of the property.

In response, the city has continued preparations for the extension in cooperation with the Korea Heritage Service, related ministries, local governments, and local communities. These efforts included systematically documenting the World Heritage value of the Yeosu tidal flats, improving protected-area management and institutional foundations, and responding to the evaluation process of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

This achievement is the result of sustained efforts to implement previous recommendations and improve the management system, and it serves as another reminder of the importance of cooperation and the sustainable conservation and management of tidal flat ecosystems.

A city official stated, “The World Heritage inscription of the Yeosu tidal flats is a meaningful milestone, as it brings global recognition to the ecological value of the region and elevates its international standing.” The official added, “We will continue working with relevant institutions to establish a systematic foundation for the conservation and management of this World Heritage property and provide full administrative support to help further promote its value.”