Two fishing villages in Seocheon-gun and Taean-gun selected in Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries competition, following last year's designation of a Seosan village, as province aims to model sustainable marine ecotourism
South Chungcheong Province's scenic tidal flats have again been recognized for their ecological excellence.
The provincial government announced Monday that the Yubudo fishing village in Seocheon-gun and the Maegeum-ri fishing village in Taean-gun had been selected in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' tidal flat eco-village designation competition.
The two designations follow last year's inaugural competition, in which the Jungwang and Wangsan villages in Seosan were named, marking back-to-back recognition for the province.
South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries minister designates tidal flat eco-villages from communities adjacent to marine or wetland protected areas that have outstanding tidal flat ecosystems and scenic landscapes, and the capacity to conserve and use those resources sustainably.
The Yubudo fishing village in Seocheon-gun is an island community situated on pristine tidal flats designated as a wetland protection zone. Residents still produce high-quality shellfish — including Manila clams, surf clams and cockles — using traditional methods. The area also serves as the country's largest stopover site for migratory birds, giving it exceptional ecological resources and high conservation value.
The Maegeum-ri fishing village in Taean-gun is distinguished by the balance it strikes between its clean tidal flats and coastal natural environment on one hand, and traditional farming and fishing on the other. The village earned high marks for its residents' strong sense of community, their self-managed tidal flat stewardship, and the natural and ecological value it holds as a tidal flat eco-village.
The province plans to strengthen its standing as a leading marine ecology hub by combining resident-led conservation of outstanding tidal flat ecosystems with marine ecotourism that draws on the human and material resources of the designated fishing villages.
Key initiatives include upgrading eco-friendly tourism infrastructure that preserves the tidal flats' original character, establishing a resident-led autonomous tidal flat management system, and expanding marine ecology education and hands-on experience programs to raise awareness of the value of marine ecosystems.
Im Seong-beom, head of the provincial marine policy division, said the designations were "a proud achievement that recognizes the value of our province's clean marine assets," adding that the province would work to "protect the ecological vitality of the tidal flats while building a model where sustainable marine ecotourism can coexist."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
