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Main article: Wildlife of Korea

The wildlife of South Korea comprises many animals, fungi and plants. Wildlife refers to animal and plant species that live in the wild or natural state such as mountains or rivers. According to the Ministry of Environment (South Korea), the rich diversity of South Korea's wildlife includes 8,271 species of plants, 18,117 species of animals and 3,528 species of others. There are 30,000 species are exist in South Korea, but it is expected that there are more than 100,000 species.

Animalia

South Korea is surrounded by water on three sides. The southern sea(South Sea (Korea)) and the western sea of South Korea(Yellow Sea) have irregular coastline. South Korea runs from north to south and it has complex terrain. Therefore South Korea has various climate and high precipitation and this condition leads to a diversity of wildlife.

In South Korea, there are 18,117 species of animals. It contains 1,528 species of vertebrate, 3,564 species of invertebrate and 13,025 species of insect.

Lynx

Red-Crowned Crane Couple

Endangered wild animals

Article 2 of Wildlife Conservation and Management Act discusses endangered wild animals in South Korea.There are 246 endangered animals in South Korea. Koreaboo which is the most popular web portal for Korean content in North America choose 10 animals that are endangered in South Korea. For example, endangered wild animals in South Korea include

• Red-crowned crane: Its height is 136~140cm and weight is 6.5~10kg. Its lifespan is 30~86 years. It is omnivore and it appears in the winter around late October. In South Korea, it can be found in Imjin River.
• Golden eagle: Its height is 81~89cm and weight is around 4.4kg. The distribution is evenly spread across the South Korea.
• Lynx: Its length is around 90cm and tail is about 20cm. Its lifespan is around 11 years. It can be found South Korea, Europe, Turkey each others.
• Siberian musk deer: Its length is 65~87cm and tail is about 3~4cm. It is founded in Mokpo, located in South Jeolla Province.
• Hodgson's bat
• Asian Black Bear
• Japanese Sea Lion
• Tibetan wolf (wild Korean wolf): Its length is 100∼130cm and its weight is 25~45kg. It is founded in North Gyeongsang Province, Gangwon Province and North Chungcheong Province.
• Amur leopard: Its length is about 180 ~ 200cm and its weight is 32~48kg. It is founded in Inje County, located in Gangwon Province in 2002.
• Siberian Tiger

Harmful wild animals

Harmful wild animals means the wild animals which damage property or endanger people.

For example, harmful wild animals in South Korea include

• Sparrow, magpie, jay, crow, brown-eared bulbul which damage to crops of fruit trees in groups over a long period of time.
• Pigeon, pheasant, elk, mole, wild boar, red squirrel, kind of rat and duck(except some spices of rat and duck) which have high inhabitation densities, therefore they damage to agriculture,forests and fisheries.
• Magpie which give damage to power facilities such as telegraph pole.
• Pigeon which damage to life or cultural assets with pigeon's feces or feathers.
• Wild Boar they roam the mountain sides but recently have been coming down to the city centers in search of food. These animals are big,strong, and fast and can potentially be fatal to humans.
• Asian giant hornet when they are grouped together they are ruthless insects that can destroy an entire army of bumble bees. they usually live in large trees and they have been known to attack humans that accidentally run into their nest.

Flora

In South Korea, there are 8,271 species of plants. It contains 4,662 species of higher plants and 3,609 species of lower plants. Wild plants in South Korea include Korean native species such as Pentactina. Despite the biodiversity, ecosystem in South Korea is unstable because of land development. 67㎢ of forest disappear each year. This means that 0.1% of total South Korean forests are disappearing each year.

Abies koreana

Berberis koreana

Thuja koraiensis

Distribution of plants

Korea can be divided largely into three groups by distribution of plants. The groups are warm-temperate forest, temperate forest and forest of polar climate. Considering regional character of Ulleungdo and Jejudo, we can divide Korea into five regions. Evergreen broad-leaved trees have grown in warm-temperate forest. Warm-temperate forest in Korea includes southern coastal region, Jeju Island and several islands of the southern sea which are under 35 degrees of north latitude. Some of the species here include Quercus myrsinaefolia, Quercus acuta, Quercus salicina, Daphniphyllum macropodum, Castanopsis cuspidata, Ligustrum foliosum, Machilus thunbergii. South Korea is dominated by temperate forest which takes 85% of its territory. Land between Korean Demilitarized Zone and the northern part of 35 degrees of north latitude belongs to this. Common species in temperate forest are Carpinus laxiflora, Carpinus tschonoskii Maxim, Quercus mongolica. A frigid forest exist in the Kaema Plateau in North Korea or south-central's higher mountain. Picea jezoensis, Pinus pumila, Abies nephrolepis, Larix gmelinii, Abies holophylla can be found there.

• Warm-temperate Forest

1. Ulleungdo : A sort of trees which reseed with Seonginbong Peak as a center based on approximately 600m altitude. An altitude of below 600m has wild plants in the Southern province that are Magnolia, Euonymus japonica Thunb, Camellia japonica, Hedera rhombea, Ardisia japonica, Vitex rotundifolia and others. An altitude of 600m or above has Fagus crenata, Sorbus commixta.
2. Jejudo : Jejudo can be divided into coast vegetation and mountain vegetation. Coast vegetation is Sinomenium acutum, Machilus Thunbergii, Daphniphyllum macropodum, Camellia japonica, Vitex rotundifolia, Centella asiatica. Reynoutria elliptica, Hydrangea serrata, Eleutherococcus gracilistylus, Aconitum napiforme, Schisandra repanda each others.

• Temperate Forest

1. The Southern part of Temperate Forest : The Southern part of Temperate Forest contains 37degrees of north latitude at the west coast, 38degrees of north latitude at the east coast and inner land's Temperate Forest that is a southern part of 36.5degrees. There are common bamboo, Acer palmatum, Carpinus laxiflora each others. In Jirisan mountain, there are Hemerocallis fulva, Picea jezoensis, Cornus officinalis, Rhododendron mucronulatum, Abies koreana, Acanthopanax chiisanensis, Aconitum chiisanense, Angelica gigas each others. In Mt. Deogyusan, there are Aconitum uchiyamai, Sorbus commixta, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Cimicifuga simplex each others. In the coast district, there are Camellia japonica, Euonymus japonica, Daphniphyllum macropodum, Camellia sinensis each others.
2. The Central part of Temperate Forest : The Central part of Temperate Forest contains 39degrees of north latitude at the west coast, 40degrees of north latitude at the east coast and inner land's Temperate Forest that include between a southern part of 38degrees boundary line and Northern limit of south temperate forest. There are Quercus × dentatomongolica, Acer pictum subsp. mono, Betula costata, Zanthoxylum planispinum each others. In Seoraksan Mountain, there are Hemerocallis dumortieri, Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, Rhododendron brachycarpum, Rhododendron fauriae each others. In Odaesan Mountain, there are Astilbe rubra, Berberis koreana, Convallaria keiskei Miq each others. In Chiaksan Mountain, there are Codonopsis lanceolata, Lactuca indica var. laciniata, Hieracium umbellatum, Aconitum jaluense Kom each others. In Taebaeksan Mountain, there are Juniperus chinensis, Taxus cuspidata, Juniperus rigida, Pinus densiflora, Viola diamantica, Trientalis europaea, Arisaema amurense each others. In Cheonmasan Mountain, there are Juniperus chinensis, Taxus cuspidata, Juniperus rigida, Draba nemorosa L., Eranthis stellata, Hepatica asiatica, Adonis amurensis, Heloniopsis koreana each others. In Mt.Sobaeksan, there are Iris rossii Baker, Hylomecon each others. In Woraksan Mountain, there are Actinidia arguta, Thymus quinquecostatus, Rubus coreanus each others. In Mt.Songnisan, there are Leonurus japonicus, Angelica gigas each others. In Juwangsan mountain, there are Staphylea bumalda, Jeffersonia dubia, Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance, Rhododendron schlippenbachii each others. In islands of the west coast, there are Machilus thunbergii, Camellia japonica, Epimedium koreanum, Scopolia japonica, Berberis koreana, Valeriana fauriei, Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc., Schisandra chinensis each others.
3. The Northern part of Temperate Forest : The Northern part of Temperate forest is being in between a north limit of central temperate forest and boundary line. There are Betula platyphylla, Pinus koraiensis, Acer komarovii Pojark, Ligularia fischeri, Rhododendron aureum, Epimedium koreanum, Rheum coreanum, Viola mandshurica, Lithospermum erythrorhizon each others.

Endangered wild plants

Endangered wild plants are divided into first grade and second grade.

Rhododendron aureum

Neofinetia falcata

Sundew

1. First grade endangered wild plants : It refers to species of plant which the number is significantly reduced by natural causes or artificial factors. The species are selected by Ministry of Environment (South Korea), but they should have a prior consultation with minister of Central Administration Organization. First grade enndangered wild plants refer to the following species.

• Malus komarovii(이노리나무): This plant is found in Korea and in China. The height is 5M. It grows deep in the mountain.
• Cypripedium japonicum((광릉요강꽃(광릉복주머니란) 난초과)) : It can found in Gwangreung, Gyeonggi Province. Its height is 20cm~40cm and it come into blossom in April to May.
• Aerides japonicum(나도풍란 난초과) : It can found in Jeju Province or South Jeolla Province which is the warmest region in South Korea. It has aerial root. The length of the leaves is 8cm~15cm.
• Euchresta japonica(만년콩 콩과) : It grows in forest of valley in Jeju Province. Its size is about 30cm~80cm. It come into blossom in July and its color is white.
• Diapensia lapponica L.(암매(돌매화나무) 암매과) : It is found in Halla mountain in Jeju Province. It come into blossom in June to July and its color is white or pink.
• Cymbidium lancifolium(죽백란 난초과) : It can be found in Halla Mountain which is in Jeju Province. Its height is about 10cm~20cm. It come into blossom in May to July. This plant thrives in strong sunlight and its flowers are beautiful. Thus this plant has great value for decorative plant.
• Neofinetia falcata(풍란 난초과) : It is found in southern island in South Korea and Japan. Its height is about 3~15cm.
• Cymbidium kanran(한란 난초과) : It grows in southern of Jeju Province and its size is about 25~60cm.

2. Second grade endangered wild plants : It refers to species of plant which the number is significantly reduced by natural causes or artificial factors. These plants have possible to extinct in foreseeable future. The species are selected by Ministry of Environment (South Korea).

• Euryale ferox(가시연꽃 수련과) : It can be found in Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province, but water pollution caused crisis of extinction. It grows in pond or swamp.
• Siberian ginseng(가시오갈피나무 두릅나무과) : It is found in Gyeonggi, Gangwon and North Gyeongsang Province. It grows in forest in high mountain. It come into blossom in June to July and it ripen in September to October.
• Chinese Twinleaf(깽깽이풀 매자나무과) : It is ornamental plant, but its root is used for herbal medicine.
• Sundew(끈끈이귀개) : It is an insectivorous plant and it grows in beach, South Jeolla Province.
• Rhododendron aureum(노랑만병초) : It grows in alpine region. Its height is near 1M. It come into blossom in May to June and its leaf is used for herbal medicine.
• Iris odaesanensis Y. N. Lee(노랑무늬붓꽃) : It is korea endemic species. It grows in South Gyeongsang Province mountain such as Odaesan, Taebaeksan. It is usually used for ornamental plant and fresh sprout is used for food.
• Aster altaicus var. uchiyamae(단양쑥부쟁이) : It grows at sandy soil near stream. It come into blossom in August to September and its flower color is purple inclining to red. It is special plant in South Korea and it can be found in Yeoju,Gyeonggi Province and Danyang,North Chungcheong Province.
• Ranunculus kazusensis(매화마름) : It grows at ditch(waterway) around a paddy field. It's distribution is southern province and west coast. It comes into blossom in April or May. It's flower grows to 30 ~ 50cm. And It is in fruit in June or July.
• Isoetes japonica(물부추) : It lives at shallow water. And It was found in Pyeongtaek, 1942. However, It maybe died out in Korea. In currently, It lives in Japan. It grows to 10 ~ 30 cm. All is dark green and it resembles eggs.
• Vexillabium yakushimense (Yamamoto) F. Maekawa(백운란) : It's size is 4 ~ 10 cm. It lives in mountain and forest in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk. It flowers in august. It's flower is white and it's flower blooms one to three.
• Saururus chinensis(Lour.) Baill(삼백초) : It folwers in June ~ August. It grows to 50 ~ 100 cm. It lives in the valley that is well ventilated and penumbra, and air humidity is high in Jejudo and Jirisan.
• Viola raddeana Regel(선제비꽃) : It is perennial plant that grows rare in a brook. It's height is 30 ~ 50cm. It lives in Gyoungsangnamdo and Gyeonggido.
• Lilium cernuumKom(솔나리) : It lives in mountain. It's stem is thin and strong and it grows to 70ocm. It flowers one ~ four in July or August.
• Psilotum nudum(L.) Griseb(솔잎란) : It lives in coast. It grows to 10~30cm. It's root is short and 1 ~ 3mm in diameter. It lives in the southern part of Jejudo.
• Millettiajaponica. (Sieb. et Zucc.) A. Gray(애기등) : It's stem is thin and fragile and the stem's height is 3m roughly. It's scions have fur. It flowers white in July or August. It bears fruit in October. It lives in Jeonnam and Gyeongnam.
• Viola websteri Hemsl(왕제비꽃) : It lives in the area that has a lot of moisture. It flowers white in April or May. It grows to 40 ~ 90cm. It lives in Gapyeong(Gyeonggido), Sambang(Hamgyeongnamdo), Baekdusan. It is Korean endemic species.
• Cyrtosia septentrionalis(으름난초) : It is called to Gaecheonma. It grows in forest in Jejudo. It's height is 50 ~ 100cm. It is parasite. It's root contains Armillaria(A spawn of mushroom). It flowers brown in June or July.
• Polygonatumstenophyllum Maxim(층층둥굴레) : It lives at mountain and pasture. It grows to 30 ~ 90cm. It's rhizome is thick and grow sideway. It's flower blooms in June and it is soft yellow.
• Mankyua chejuense(제주고사리삼) : It is endemic species of Jejudo in Korea. It is the only plant that was identified of it's habitat. It preserves primitive shape of bracken. It was found in 2001 at first. It called as 'Mankyua chejuense'. It's height is 10 ~ 15cm.
• Leontice microrhyncha S. Moore(한계령풀) : It grows to 30 ~ 40cm. It lives in penumbra or fertile region in high mountain. It has three leaves. It flowers in July and August. It is used to ornamental plant.

Controversies

The Han river ecosystem is endangered, because the water flow changed due to water blocking construction at Ilsan Bridge. Deposition of materials in the river caused environmental damages. The Korean association of wild birds protection claimed to remove structure which has possible to destroy the natural ecology and overflow its bank. They claimed to remove water blocking structure and to release data about Han river, to prepare safety measure for road collapse and overflow.

In the media

Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office set up unmanned camera and they succeeded in capturing the wildlife. In video, wild animals moved around alpine wetland and they showed various actions such as hunting and marking their territories. Marten and wildcat which are observed at this time were selected to endangered animals and they were apex predator in South Korea. The video has great importance at the aspect of scientific research because it has been only estimated by written document, not as real things. In addition, it makes chance to reconsider to preserve the alpine wetland.

See also

• Korea Association of Wild Animals Protection
• Korean Wild Birds Society
• Korea Biodiversity Information System
• Portal of living resource in South Korea

References

Category:Environment of South Korea South Korea