Recertification awarded at the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Symposium

Hantan River Geopark has been recertified as a UNESCO World Geopark.

Gyeonggi-do announced on Sept. 19 that the Hantangang Geopark was recertified as a UNESCO World Geopark at the Asia-Pacific Geopark Network (APGN) Symposium held in Cao Bang, Vietnam, from Sept. 8 to 15, and will maintain its official status until 2027.

World Geoparks must be recertified through an evaluation every four years. This is the first recertification assessment since the Hantangang Geopark was certified as a World Geopark in 2020.

Gyeonggi-do analyzed that the five local governments - Pocheon-si, Yeoncheon-si, Yeoncheon-cheon, Gangwon-do, and Cheorwon-gun - worked together to successfully recertify the park by faithfully implementing the recommendations made by UNESCO during the initial certification in 2020.

In fact, the five local governments, including Gyeonggi-do, have been jointly managing the Hantan River World Geopark by organizing an annual contribution for its operation and management. To fulfill the recommendation, Gyeonggi Province commissioned academic research to establish the international value of the park's geological sites, resulting in seven papers on the Euncheon-daeri plate fractures, wet valley structures, and Aurage pillow lava geological sites published in leading journals (Remote Sensing, Minerals, etc.).

In addition to the recertification, UNESCO also made new recommendations for the Hantan River World Geopark, including strengthening cooperation among World Geoparks, building facilities and infrastructure, improving visibility, strengthening information education and research, linking with cultural heritage, and raising awareness through education.

“This recertification is a testament to the 500,000 years of geological and historical value of the Hantangang Geopark,” said Cha Sung-soo, director of the Gyeonggi-do Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy. ”We will continue to make joint efforts, such as holding regular working meetings among the five local governments, to succeed in recertification in four years.”

UNESCO World Geoparks are sites and landscapes of global geological value that are managed with the concept of protection, education, and sustainable development. There are currently five designated in Korea (Hantan River, Jeju Island, Cheongsong, Mudeungsan, and Jeonbuk West Coast).

The Hantan River Geopark covers 493.24 square kilometers in the watershed of Pocheon City, 273.65 square kilometers in the watershed of Yeoncheon County, and 398.72 square kilometers in the watershed of Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, totaling 1,165.61 square kilometers, which is about 400 times the size of Yeouido (2.9 square kilometers).

Along with the pristine ecosystems of the DMZ, the Hantan River is also home to rarely seen inland volcanic features such as columnar and pillow lava, formed from lava that erupted from North Korea's Mount Oryeong between 500,000 and 100,000 years ago, making it a highly geologically valuable and globally rare spectacle. It has 26 geological attractions, including Pocheon Art Valley and Bidulginang Waterfall, Jeongok-ri Ruins in Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon, and Jusangjeri in Imjin River.

[News Source: Gyeonggi-do Government]
 

[Korea Edu Press]