Jeju's Volcanic Formations
Put on World Heritage List

Raises Jeju's profile as one of the world's popular tourist destinations

The volcanic island and lava caves of Jeju Island have been added to UNESCO's World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.At the 31st general meeting held at the Christchurch Convention Center in New Zealand on June 27th, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to register 'the volcanic island and lava caves of Jeju Island' as a world natural heritage site. The World Heritage Committee confirmed the recommendations of the IUCN (International Nature Conservation Union) as they stood, without separate debate and after only a brief discussion in connection with the registration and deliberation of Jeju.
Jeju's natural treasures were officially recognized to be one of the most outstanding in the world. As a result, Jeju is now in possession of Korea's first natural world heritage site.
The world natural heritage site of Jeju is comprised of three regions: Hallasan National Park, Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sun-rising) Peak, and the Geomunoreum Lava Tube System.
The Geomunoreum Lava Tube System incorporates Geomunoreum and five other caves: Manjanggul, Gimnyeonggul, Yongcheondonggul, Bengduigul, and Dangcheomuldonggul. The area registered in the world natural heritage list is 18,845ha, covering 10.1% of the total area of Jeju Island. The key area is 9,475㏊, and the buffer area is 9,370㏊.
The International Nature Conservation Union (IUCN), which is an advisory organization of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Committee, gave this assessment of Jeju Island in a report on 'the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Caves' submitted to the World Heritage Committee last May: "Features of volcanic activities and important history appear clearly in the Hallasan Mountain and Geomunoreum Lava Tube System, and the tuff ring area of Seongsanilchulbong Peak is an important site helpful for understanding underwater eruptive volcanoes".
Yu Hong-jun, the Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration and a head of the government representatives,
officially proposed that the 34th general meeting of the World Heritage Committee for the year 2010 would be held on Jeju Island in his registration acceptance speech that day.
The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has been busy preparing a strategy for making 'the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Caves', now a world natural heritage, unique from the other 160 world natural heritage sites.
The province plans to publicize the registration of Jeju as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site both at home and abroad and plans to prepare well-laid arrangements for the receiving of visitors such as the implementation of special education for administrative personnel of the heritage area, continuous training of heritage interpreters, and the provision of translation services in preparation for increased visitors. It will also re-check the various facilities and environmental status within the heritage area.
The province will establish a strategy for bringing in a goal of 10 million tourists by aggressively utilizing an international brand. While a differentiated tourism marketing strategy will be extended by means of raising the point of the first world natural heritage in Korea, large-scale innovation for the tourism industry within the province will be also extended.
Considering that this is the sole natural world heritage site in Korea, projects supported by national expenditure will be enlarged to buy land for the natural world heritage and to construct world heritage and visitor centers. Projects funded through private capital will contribute to the stimulation of the regional economy.
Mid-term and long-term plans will be also established for the efficient administration.
Jeju Gov. Kim Tae-wan said in an interview in Oakland International Airport on that day "jeju volcanic island's addition to the World Heritage List will be the most excited moment to be remembered in history of Jeju."
Jeju's inscription as the World Heritage List was owned to 3-year-old concerted efforts by Jeju residents who have joined for the cause, said Gov. Kim, adding that he extended a whole-hearted thank-you to support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Culture Heritage Administration as well as Unesco Korea Committee and IUCN Korea Committee. nw

Seen from above are Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sun-rising) Peak, Mt. Halla and caves, which have been put on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.