The Korea Heritage Service and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on June 5 said the International Union for Conservation of Nature recommended to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee the addition of "Korea Getbol, Korea's Tidal Flats Phase II" to the World Heritage list. The photo shows the gaetbeol (getbol) tidal flat in Goheung-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province. (Goheung County Office)

By Margareth Theresia

Four domestic tidal flats are expected to be added to a UNESCO World Heritage site in the country.

The Korea Heritage Service and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on June 5 said the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee the addition of "Korea Getbol, Korea's Tidal Flats Phase 2" to the site.

In 2021, the nation had "Korea's Tidal Flats" inscribed on the list in recognition of the value of four tidal flats in the counties of Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do Province; Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do Province; and Sinan-gun and Boseong-gun-Suncheon, Jeollanam-do Province.

This application for Phase II seeks to expand the components and area of the site by adding tidal flats in Yeosu and the counties of Goheung-gun and Muan-gun in Jeollanam-do and Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, to the existing site.

Once the listing is confirmed, Korea's Tidal Flats will receive designation as a serial heritage site of six parts: the Boseong-Suncheon-Yeosu-Goheung Tidal Flats, Sinan-Muan Tandoman Bay Tidal Flats, Muan Hamhaeman Bay Tidal Flats, Gochang Tidal Flats, Seocheon Tidal Flats and Seosan Tidal Flats.

The IUCN said Phase II meets the criteria for World Heritage listing and recommended that the committee approve a boundary change to greatly expand the boundaries of the existing site.

It also said the four sites satisfy all World Heritage criteria and requirements for integrity, conservation and management per the operating guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

The final decision on inscription will come at next month's committee session in Busan.

margareth@korea.kr