Beyond Seoul: The Natural Wonders of South Korea

The largest wetland is located in the southeast, in the middle of the country. It covers an area of 2.5 square kilometres. In the Upo Wetland in Gyeongsang Province, much revolves around a legendary bird: the ibis. The Upo Wetland was added to the list of Ramsar Wetlands in 1998. This gives it the status of an internationally important and sustainable habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds. A reintroduction project for ibises was launched there in 2008. Over 100 ibises are cared for here. Nearby is Jirisan National Park. Rugged mountains and endless valleys stretch over an area of more than 480 square kilometres. In the eastern part of the park is one of the very few Buddhist nunneries, Daewonsa Temple. There are only three Buddhist temples for women in South Korea. At the foothills of Jirian Park lies Jeolla Province. It is considered the breadbasket of South Korea. Rice farmer Lee Dong Hyun attaches great importance to sustainability and organic farming. Through his work with organic rice cultivation, Lee Dong Hyun has discovered a new field of research. Ancient rice varieties. Jirisan National Park is home to almost 5,000 plant and animal species, including South Korea's only bear population. The Asian black bear, also known as the collared bear. It was originally widespread throughout Asia, but was on the verge of extinction a few years ago. Kim Gye-seon and Ha Ji-won are rangers who look after the animals. All bears are fitted with a transmitter so that the rangers can see which of the animals released into the wild survive. Just a few kilometres from the northern end, life is pulsating. Seoul is a megacity. Almost 10 million people live in the South Korean capital. Koreans are a nation of fitness enthusiasts. Park Ji-Woo also lives here. She works as a fitness coach. Ji-Woo is fully committed to a new trend sport, trail running. She uses the mountains of Bukhansan National Park, close to the city, for this purpose. This is where she trains. From the top of the mountain, you have a phenomenal view of Seoul.

In the south, in Suncheon Province, lies one of South Korea's most biodiverse ecosystems: Suncheon Bay. A coastal wetland where the sea, marshland, salt marshes, dams and dykes are interconnected. In 2018, it was designated a World Natural Heritage Site. Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds spend the winter here or rest on their way to warmer climates. The black-necked cranes are a real speciality. Hwang Sun-mi works here as a scientist. The inhabitants leave almost a tenth of their fields to the up to 200,000 birds for wintering, a natural spectacle when the cranes land. In the south-west of South Korea, in Sinan County, most of South Korea's archipelagos are scattered, collectively known as the ‘1004 Islands’. One of the country's most popular fruits is grown on the island of Aphä: the kaki fruit. Jeon Hong-il lives and works here; he is the owner of a plantation. His nephew takes care of another fruit: the Nashi pear. It develops a very special taste. The coastal region of the 1004 Islands is struggling to survive. With the construction of many bridges, the people here have become independent of the weather, the tides and the ebb and flow of the sea. The city of Mokpo on the mainland has been connected by a bridge since 2008. Cho Dae-ik also travels from Mokpo to Aphä Island almost every day. This is where he has his workshop. He builds boats according to old Korean traditions. Until 50 years ago, these boats were still used for fishing. Today, museums and other institutions commission Dae-ik to build boats. In order to make island life attractive again, new jobs must be created. In 2019, Sinan came up with an unusual idea: to farm oysters. Oyster farmer Shin Sang-Soo has set up his nets in the sea and is trying to establish the business for the younger generation. 220 hectares of oyster beds are already being cultivated around the archipelago. The Heuksando archipelago is located far away, about 90 kilometres from Mokpo. Only about 2,000 people are said to live here. Hyun-Ju is very successful in selling the island's fish: stingrays. Stingrays dominate life on the island. They are the most lucrative source of income, and she makes a living from fermented fish.