Disappearing Shores: Coastal Ecosystem Collapse in Southern Korea
- Jungseo Park
- 4월 24일
- 4분 분량
Each tide that kisses the southern coasts of Korea carries a quiet warning. Where tidal wetlands once teemed with migratory birds, and where coastal pine forests once buffered fierce storms, now lie concrete sea walls, reclaimed land, and eroding beaches. The landscapes have changed—not gradually through the slow dance of nature, but rapidly, almost violently, through decades of unrestrained development. For years, I returned every summer to my grandmother’s fishing village in Namhae, only to notice how the coastline seemed to retreat a little more each time. What began as childhood curiosity—wondering why the beach was shrinking—eventually deepened into a realization with national and even global significance: coastal degradation is not just about losing beautiful views. It’s about biodiversity collapse, rising flood risk, and the irreversible erosion of climate resilience and cultural identity.
Today, the crisis facing Korea’s coastal ecosystems mirrors a global emergency—one formally recognized in Target 14.2 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for countries to “protect and restore marine and coastal ecosystems” through sustainable management. Although this target set 2020 as a milestone year for progress, South Korea’s coasts remain in a fragile and vulnerable state. According to the Korea Environment Institute, over 46% of tidal flats have vanished since the 1980s. Once-thriving habitats have been fragmented by construction and polluted by runoff and waste. These wetlands aren’t just biodiversity hotspots—they are nature’s shock absorbers. They filter water, buffer storm surges, provide spawning grounds for marine life, and capture carbon, acting as a vital frontline defense against climate change.
A particularly stark example is the Nakdong River Estuary in Busan, formerly one of the largest and most ecologically rich estuarine wetlands in East Asia. In the 1990s, industrial expansion and land reclamation began slicing up the estuary with seawalls, dikes, and floodgates. What was once a dynamic, breathing wetland is now a network of artificial channels. Once a resting point for over 130 species of migratory birds, the estuary now suffers from decreased biodiversity and ecosystem imbalance. The construction of the Nakdong Barrage severely disrupted natural salinity levels and sediment transport, damaging fish nurseries and accelerating marshland erosion (Busan Environmental Research Center, 2024).
Likewise, Suncheon Bay, a coastal wetland internationally celebrated for its reed fields and mudflats, is facing a quieter form of degradation. Though it is a designated Ramsar Wetland, tourism pressure and rising sea levels are threatening its stability. Studies by the National Institute of Ecology found that microplastic levels in sediment samples doubled between 2017 and 2023, and key species of juvenile fish are in decline due to the weakening of eelgrass beds that once anchored the food web.
To reverse these trends, ecosystem-based management (EBM) must replace outdated, short-term development strategies. EBM is a holistic approach that considers the interconnections between land, sea, and human activity. In Korea, several pilot projects have tested this approach. One notable success is the Getbol (tidal flat) Restoration Project in Seocheon, where previously reclaimed land was returned to its natural state. By reopening channels to tidal flow, native plants and benthic animals quickly recolonized the area. Within five years, local fishery productivity increased by 40%, demonstrating the practical economic benefits of ecological restoration (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 2024).
Another promising method involves the creation of “living shorelines.” These nature-based solutions use organic materials—like oyster reefs, salt marsh grasses, mangrove plantings, and biodegradable mats—instead of concrete. Such systems reduce wave energy, stabilize sediment, and create habitat for marine life. Korea’s first living shoreline experiment, conducted at Gadeokdo Island, resulted in 37% less coastal erosion compared to hardened shorelines, and biodiversity indicators in the test area nearly doubled within three years (KIOST, 2025). Unlike static seawalls, these systems strengthen over time as the ecosystems they support grow denser and more complex.
Still, these innovative solutions cannot succeed without proper legal and institutional support. South Korea must strengthen and enforce Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for coastal development projects and increase funding for large-scale wetland restoration. Education and awareness campaigns are equally important. In Wando County, for example, local students now engage in hands-on restoration projects like eelgrass planting and water quality monitoring. This not only provides valuable ecological data but also fosters a deeper culture of environmental stewardship among youth.
International collaboration is also critical. The health of Korea’s coastal ecosystems is deeply connected to regional currents and climate systems, which don’t recognize national borders. Joint conservation efforts with neighboring countries—particularly Japan and China—under frameworks like the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) can help share resources, harmonize marine spatial planning, and address transboundary challenges like drifting marine waste and fisheries overexploitation.
In conclusion, the decline of Korea’s southern coastal ecosystems is not irreversible—but the clock is ticking. Target 14.2 must be seen not merely as an international promise but as a national emergency response plan. Wetlands are not “wastelands”; they are natural infrastructure, crucial for both human safety and ecological health. If we act decisively—through science, policy, education, and international cooperation—we can restore what has been lost and ensure that future generations inherit coastlines that are thriving, not vanishing.
Citations
Korea Environment Institute. Coastal Wetland Status and Loss Report. KEI, 2023.
Busan Environmental Research Center. Nakdong Estuary Ecosystem Assessment. BERC, 2024.
National Institute of Ecology. Microplastics in Korean Coastal Wetlands. NIE, 2024.
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Getbol Restoration: Seocheon Pilot Results. MOF, 2024.
Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST). Living Shorelines Pilot Project Report. KIOST, 2025.
United Nations. “Goal 14: Life Below Water – Target 14.2.” Sustainable Development Goals.
NOWPAP (Northwest Pacific Action Plan). Regional Framework for Coastal Monitoring. UNEP, 2023.
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