Location: Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province

Coordinates (lat, long): 37.68920, 126.68400

Area: 381 ha

Date of joining: 1997 March 07

Status: Natural Monument

Other listings: Ramsar, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, Anatidae, Cranes

Important species

Limosa lapponica (Bar-tailed Godwit), Limosa limosa (Black-tailed Godwit), Tringa nebularia (Common Greenshank), Calidris alpina (Dunlin), Calidris tenuirostris (Great Knot), Pluvialis squatarola (Grey Plover), Charadrius mongolus (Lesser Sand Plover), Calidris ruficollis (Red-necked Stint), Tringa guttifer (Spotted Greenshank), Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), Anser fabalis (Bean Goose), Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Aythya ferina (Common Pochard), Mergus merganser (Goosander), Grus vipio (White-naped Crane)

Location: Chungcheongnam Province

Coordinates (lat, long): 36.66667, 126.40000

Area: 15,409 ha

Date of joining: 14 May 1999

Protection status: Fisheries Resources Protection Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, Anatidae

Important species:

Limosa lapponica (Bar-tailed Godwit), Limosa limosa (Black-tailed Godwit), Tringa nebularia (Common Greenshank), Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), Anas formosa (Baikal Teal), Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard), Anser fabalis (Bean Goose), Grus monacha (Hooded Crane), Ciconia boyciana (Oriental White Stork), Platalea leucorodia (Eurasian Spoonbill), Platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill)

Cheonsu Bay Flyway Site [EAAF046] covers an area of 15,409ha (comprising two areas: A 9,626ha and B 5,783ha) and includes the Haemi River, Ganwol lake, Bunam Lake, 10,121ha of rice paddies as well as sand dunes, reed beds and willow forest. Cheonsu Bay supports up to 7,150,000 birds (320 species in date), including migrating populations of threatened Baikal Teal and Bean Goose, as well as rare and endangered species: Oriental White Stork, Hooded Crane, Eurasian Spoonbill and Black-faced Spoonbill, etc. In addition to waterbirds the site is home to Leopard Cat, Water Deer, Raccoon, etc. The site is under the jurisdiction and management of Seosan City (Environmental Ecology Division). Cheonsu Bay also houses Seosan Birdland visitors center, the local economy is supported by Eco-tourism, including the Opening Bird festival and rice farming. Reclamation of the mudflats in Cheonsu Bay had been underway from 1975 to around 1995. Threats to current hydrology comes from management and dredging of the waterways.

Location: Kyungsangbuk Province

Coordinates (lat, long): 36.16667, 128.38333

Area: 760.0 ha

Date of joining: 2004 September 21

Status: Wildlife Reserve Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Cranes

Important species

Grus vipio (White-naped Crane), Grus monacha (Hooded Crane)

Location: Chollanam Province

Coordinates (lat, long): 34.83333, 127.41667

Area: 28,140 ha

Date of joining: 21 September 2004

Protection status: Protected Area

Other listings: Ramsar Site, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae, Cranes, Shorebirds

Important species

Limosa lapponica (Bar-tailed Godwit), Tringa nebularia (Common Greenshank), Numenius arquata (Eurasian Curlew), Heteroscelus brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler), Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Tringa guttifer (Spotted Greenshank), Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), Grus monacha (Hooded Crane), Platalea leucorodia (Eurasian Spoonbill), Cygnus cygnus (whooper Swan), Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Grus grus (Common Crane), Haematopus ostralegus (Eurasian Oystercatcher), Numenius madagascariensis (Far Eastern Curlew), Saundersilarus saundersi (Saunders’s Gull), Falco tinnunculus (Common Kestrel), Calidris alpina (Dunlin), Tadorna tadorna (Common Shelduck), Larus ridibundus (Black-headed Gull), Antigone vipio (White-naped Crane)

Location: Gyeongnam Province

Coordinates (lat, long): 35.18000, 128.41000

Area: 602 ha

Date of joining: 12 September 2008

Protection status: Protected Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae, Cranes, and Others

Important species:

Anser fabalis (Bean Goose), Anas falcata (Falcated Teal), Anas formosa (Baikal Teal), Anser cygnoides (Swan Goose), Aythya baeri (Baer’s Pochard), Grus monacha (Hooded Crane), Grus vipio (White-naped Crane), Grus japonensis (Red-crowned Crane), Ciconia ciconia (White Stork), Platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill)

Junam Reservoir Flyway Site [EAAF095] is also a Ramsar site. It is 600ha big and contains Junam, Dongpan and Sannam Reservoirs. The three reservoirs have shallow (under 2 m) water, and contain many fish and aquatic plant species. The reservoirs give home to large numbers of wintering waterbirds. White-naped Crane, Swan Goose, Baikal Teal and Falcated Teal occur here in internationally important numbers. Also the site is important to many breeding birds: in the summer, more than 200 species breed here.

Location: Gyeongnam Province

Coordinates (lat, long): 35.18000, 128.41000

Area: 854 ha

Date of joining: 12 September 2008

Protection status: Protected Area

Other listings: Ramsar Site, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae, Cranes, and Others

Important species

Anser fabalis (Bean Goose), Anas falcata (Falcated Teal), Anas formosa (Baikal Teal), Anser cygnoides (Swan Goose), Aythya baeri (Baer’s Pochard), Grus monacha (Hooded Crane), Grus vipio (White-naped Crane), Grus japonensis (Red-crowned Crane), Ciconia ciconia (White Stork), Platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill)

Upo Wetland [EAAF096] is located east of the Nakdong River and is made up of four smaller wetlands (Upo, Mokpo, Sajipo, and Jjokjibeol). It covers about 850ha and a bit over the quarter of the site (230 ha) is permanent surface water of a large oxbow lake. The rest is marshland. This site is under the jurisdiction and management of Changnyeong County. It has Upo Ecology Centre which gives us information about the importance of the wetland.

This wetland supports over 20,000 waterbirds in the winter winter (Tundra Bean Goose, Falcated Teal and Hooded Crane). In the summer, the wetland provides food to many breeding birds too. It has several Endangered (Black-faced Spoonbill) and Vulnerable (Oriental Stork and Baikal Teal) species of migratory waterbirds.

Location: Busan Metropolitan City

Coordinates (lat, long): 35.106141, 128.947787

Area: 8849 ha

Date of joining: 1 May 2009

Protection status: Natural Monument Protection Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, Anatidae, Cranes, and Others

Important species:

Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Numenius arquata (Curlew), Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Heteroscelus brevipes (Gray-tailed Tattler), Calidris alba (Sanderling), Calidris pygmaea (Spoon-billed Sandpiper), Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan), Anser cygnoid (Swan Goose), Anser fabalis (Bean Goose), Tadorna tadorna (Common Shelduck), Anas falcata (Falcated Teal), Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard), Aythya ferina (Pochard), Bucephala clangula (Goldeneye), Grus vipio (White-naped Crane), Grus monacha (Hooded Crane), Ciconia boyciana (White Stork), Platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill), Haliaeetus albicilla (White-tailed Sea Eagle), Haliaeetus pelagicus (Steller’s Sea Eagle), Aquila heliaca (Imperial Eagle), Falco peregrinus (Peregrine Falcon), Locustella pleskei (Pleske’s Grasshopper Warbler), Phalacrocorax carbo (Great Cormorant), Egretta eulophotes (Chinese Egret), Larus argentatus (Herring Gull), Saundersilarus saundersi (Saunders’ Gull), Larus relictus (Relict Gull), Sterna albifrons (Little Tern)

Nakdong Estuary [EAAF097] is located at the southern part of the Korean peninsula. About 8,800ha of thick earth and sandy soil is stretching towards the Nakdong river. This site is under the jurisdiction and management of Busan Metropolitan City. Nakdong Estuary Eco Center provides ecological education and information about the wetland to local residents and students.

Nakdong Estuary is an important stopover site and destination for migratory birds, such as Saunders’s Gull, White-naped Crane and Hooded Crane. It is suitable as a wintering site for winter visitors and a breeding site for summer residents. Therefore, This site is a world class treasure place for migratory birds because it has all three elements of feeding conditions, geographical conditions and climatic conditions. The site has been protected as a migratory bird sanctuary by being designated as a cultural assets protection area.

Location: Gunsan/Seocheon

Coordinates (lat, long): 36.03000, 126.79000

Area: 2185 ha

Date of joining: 1 December 2010

Protection status: Protected Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae

Important species:

Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard), Anas formosa (Baikal Teal), Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Anser fabalis serrirostris (Tundra Bean Goose)

Location: Chungnam/Seocheon

Coordinates (lat, long): 36.00100, 126.61500

Area: 900 ha

Date of joining: 25 August 2011

Protection status: Protected Area

Other listings: Ramsar Site, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA)

Important for Shorebirds

Important species:

Haematopus ostralegus (Eurasian Oystercatcher), Pluvialis squatarola (Grey Plover), Charadrius mongolus (Lesser Sand Plover), Limosa lapponica (Bar-tailed Godwit), Numenius arquata (Eurasian Curlew), Numenius madagascariensis (Far Eastern Curlew), Calidris alpina (Dunlin), Calidris pygmaea (Spoon-billed Sandpiper)

Yubu-do Tidal Flat Flyway Network Site [EAAF101]  is half way down the west coast of Korea. It is an open tidal flat formed between Gunsan in Jeollabuk-do and Boryeong in Chungcheongnam-do. The tidal flat extends along over 80km of the coastal line and covers 900ha. Yubu-do Tidal Flat is under the jurisdiction and management of Seocheon County Office.

In Yubu-do about about 150,000 individuals of 98 bird species were recorded by the Ministry of Environment. Recently about 500,000 individuals of 69 bird species were observed from March 2008 to March 2009. This site provides important habitat for many threatened and migratory waterbirds, such as Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Far Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit and Eurasian Oystercatcher. Around this area, The main threat to migratory waterbirds is on-going reclamation and other development.

Location: Shinan County, Jeonnam Province

Coordinates (lat, long): 34.78000, 125.79000

Area: 3.7 ha

Date of joining: 9 November 2011

Protection status: Natural Monument Protection Area, National Park Special Protection Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, and Others

Important species:

Oceanodroma monorhis (Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel)

Chilbaldo Islet [EAAF107] in Shinan-gun of Jeonnam, is over 45km off the coast of south-western Korea. It consists of steep slopes reaching up to 100 m and is around 3.7ha big. Shinan county is in charge of managing this small island.

Chilbaldo Islet serves as an important stopover site for migratory birds: 137 bird species have been recorded here, including four internationally vulnerable species and 17 nationally protected birds. Seabirds, such as Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel, Streaked Shearwater and Ancient Murrelet breed on the islet. Internationally, Chilbaldo is included within the boundary of Shinan Dadohae Biosphere Reserve designated by UNESCO. Currently, no entrance is allowed without permission to protect the seabird breeding colony.

Location: Gyeonggi Province

Coordinates (lat, long): 37° 3'58.45"N 126°43'58.22"E

Area: 7,301ha

Date of joining: October 22 2018

Protection Status: Proposed to designate as a wetland protected area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Black-faced spoonbill, Chinese Egret, Oriental Stork, Hooded Crane and Anatidae

Important species

Haematopus ostralegus (Oyseter Catcher), Squatarola squatarola (Gray Plover), Charadrius mongolus (Mongolian Plover), Numenius madagascariensis (Far Eastern Curlew), Numenius arquata (Indian Curlew), Limnodromus semipalmatus (Bar-tailed Godwit), Calidris tenuirostris (Great Knot), Tringa cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Tringa nebularia (Common Greenshank), Calidris alpipna (Red-backed Sandpiper), Tringa guttifer (Nordmann's Greenshank)

Location: Goyang City

Coordinates (lat, long): 37° 38′ 17N / 126° 45′ 47″E

Area: 749.4 hectares

Date of joining: 10 May 2019

Status:  National Wetland Protected Area

Other listings: Civilian Controlled Zone

Important for Black-faced Spoonbill, White-naped Crane and others.

Important species 

Grus vipio (White-naped Crane), Grus monacha (Hooded Crane), Platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill), Anser scygnoides (Swan Chinese Goose), Falco peregrinus (Peregrine Falcon), Haliaeetus albicilla (White-tailed Sea Eagle)

Location: Songdo-dong, Incheon

Coordinates (lat, long): 37° 41'N 126°62'E (Zone 6&8), 37° 37'N 126°69'E(Zone 11)

Area: 611 hectares

Date of joining: 10 May 2019

Other listings: Ramsar

Important for Saunders’s Gull, Black-faced Spoonbill, Far Eastern Curlew, Great Knot and others.

Important species

Platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill), Chroicocephalus saundersi (Saunders’s Gull),
Calidris tenuirostris (Great Knot), Numenius madagascariensis (Far Eastern Curlew), Numenius arquata (Eurasian Curlew),
Haematopus ostralegus (Eurasian Oystercatcher), Pluvialis squatarola (Grey Plover)