Gochang designated as UNESCO biosphere reserve

Gochang in the southwestern part of Korea has been designated as a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve by a U.N. organization, the county office said.

The decision came in a meeting of the International Coordinating Council of Man and the Biosphere Program under the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) in Paris on May 28.

The U.N. organization designated Gochang in North Jeolla Province as a biosphere reserve in recognition of the value of its mud flats, wetlands, ancient dolmen, animal protection zone and Mt. Seoneun park, the office said.

Previously, Mt. Seorak national park, Jeju Island, a group of islands (Dadodae) on the south coast and Gwangreung forest in Gyeonggi Province were named as a biosphere reserve by the U.N. organization.

By Ayaka Erin Tobari

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com