Passed unanimously at the Busan World Heritage Committee on the 25th… First major boundary change since the 2021 inscription
Yeosu, Goheung, Muan, and Seosan added, reorganized into 6 zones… Area increased by 22%, proving biodiversity value
'Phase 3 Inscription' including metropolitan tidal flats remains a future task… Korea Heritage Service expresses "deep gratitude to residents"

The protected area of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats' has been significantly expanded. Successfully fulfilling the requirement to 'additionally designate tidal flats protection zones' recommended by UNESCO at the time of the initial inscription in 2021, four years later, it has once again proven its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) as an internationally irreplaceable migratory bird habitat.

At the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee plenary meeting held at BEXCO in Busan on the 25th, member states passed the agenda for the boundary change (expanded inscription) of 'Korean Tidal Flats' submitted by South Korea without any disagreement. This is the first time an expanded inscription has been achieved through a 'major boundary change' among South Korean World Heritage sites.

In accordance with conflict of interest prevention regulations, the proceedings on this day were led by Vice Chairperson Pierre Faye of Senegal instead of Chairperson Lee Byong-hyun of South Korea, and the decision was adopted without any separate requests for modification or objection from member states.

With this decision, the Seosan, Muan, Goheung, and Yeosu tidal flats were newly added to the existing four World Heritage tidal flats (Seocheon, Gochang, Sinan, Boseong-Suncheon). Consequently, 'Korean Tidal Flats' has been reorganized into six component parts: ▲Boseong-Suncheon-Yeosu-Goheung Tidal Flats, ▲Sinan-Muan Tando Bay Tidal Flats, ▲Muan Hamhae Bay Tidal Flats, ▲Gochang Tidal Flat, ▲Seocheon Tidal Flat, and ▲Seosan Tidal Flat. The total area also increased by about 22%, with approximately 27,975 hectares (ha) added to the existing roughly 130,000 hectares.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which had issued a recommendation for 'approval of boundary change' in the preliminary review, highly praised the newly designated tidal flats as core hubs connecting the Yellow Sea ecosystem and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), as well as a unique ecosystem inhabited by some 2,400 species of organisms, including endangered species.

Administrator Heo Min of the Korea Heritage Service stated immediately after the inscription, "I express my deep respect and gratitude to the local residents who have made the tidal flats their livelihood for a long time," adding, "Remembering that this is the heritage of all humanity, we will work together with local community residents for its preservation."

However, the 'Phase 3 inscription' to include metropolitan tidal flats such as Ganghwa, Jangbongdo, and Songdo, which were excluded from this Phase 2 expansion target, remains a future task. Tim Badman, Director of the IUCN Heritage Programme, added, "We recommend additional analysis and securing community support for the tidal flats with potential value in the Republic of Korea."