Wildlife of South Korea

The wildlife of South Korea includes 8,271 plant species, 18,117 animal species and 3,528 species of fungi and others. 30,000 species are known to inhabit South Korea, among an estimated 100,000+ in all.
South Korea has complex terrain and is surrounded by water on three sides. Therefore, South Korea has multiple climate zones and high precipitation, leading to diverse wildlife.
18,117 animal species include 1,528 species of vertebrates, 13,025 species of insects, and 3,564 species of other invertebrates.
Article 2 of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act discusses endangered wild animals. Among the 246 endangered species are many in need of urgent conservation measures. Endangered animals include:
Harmful wild animals are wild animals that damage property or endanger people.
Harmful wild animals include:
South Korea hosts 8,271 species of plants, consisting of 4,662 vascular species and 3,609 non-vascular species. Wild plants include species native to Korea such as Pentactina. Ecosystems are unstable because of land development. 67 km of forest disappear each year, accounting for 0.1% of South Korean forests.
Korea can be divided into three biozones by plant distribution: warm-temperate forest, temperate forest and subalpine forest. Evergreen broad-leaved trees grow in warm-temperate forests. Warm-temperate forests include the southern coastal region, Jeju Island and several islands of the southern sea which are below 35°N.
Species include Quercus myrsinaefolia, Quercus acuta, Quercus salicina, Daphniphyllum macropodum, Castanopsis cuspidata, Ligustrum foliosum nakai, Machilus thunbergii.
Ulleungdo: A sort of tree that reseeds with Mt. Seonginbong as a center at approximately 600 m altitude. Altitudes below 600 m have wild plants in the Southern province such as magnolia, Euonymus japonicus, Camellia japonica, Hedera rhombea, Ardisia japonica, Vitex rotundifolia and others. Above 600 m Fagus crenata and Sorbus commixta can be found.
Jejudo can be divided into coast and mountain. Coast vegetation consists of Sinomenium acutum, Machilus thunbergii, Daphniphyllum macropodum, Camellia japonica, Vitex rotundifolia, Centella asiatica. Reynoutria elliptica, Hydrangea serrata, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Aconitum napiforme, Schisandra repanda and others.
Temperate forests dominate South Korea, occupying 85% of its territory, including land between the Korean Demilitarized Zone and the northern part of 35°N. Common species are Carpinus laxiflora, Carpinus tschonoskii and Quercus mongolica.
South Korea lowlands have no boreal forests. However subalpine coniferous forest is found in highland or mountainous districts. Part of Hallasan, part of Seoraksan, fir forest of Jirisan and Gotjawal Forest in Jeju Province are the subalpine forests. At 1200 m–1500 m altitude in Hallasan, a coniferous forest consists of pine, juniper, and a Korean fir. Fruticeta is formed in 1500 m–1700 m and the alpine zone spread out above 1850 m. South-facing slopes have more mild weather than north-facing slopes. Therefore, its height extends a little more on the south side.
Endangered plants are divided into first and second grades. Species are selected by the Environment Minister after a consultation with the Minister of Central Administration.
First grade endangered wild plants species have populations significantly reduced by natural causes or artificial factors. First grade endangered wild plants include:
Second grade endangered wild plants are also significantly reduced by natural causes or artificial factors. These plants may become extinct in the foreseeable future.
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is the unmanned strip of land that separates North and South Korea. Since the Armistice that ended combat in 1953, its ecosystem has reverted to its natural state due to the absence of human activity. The DMZ and Civilian Control Zone (CCZ) (a buffer to the DMZ) support many rivers and abundant diverse ecosystems hosting plant, mammal, fish and bird species, many of which are globally endangered.
Over 5,000 species of plants and animals have been identified as living in the DMZ, including many on the endangered species list. These include: Siberian musk deer, white-naped crane, red-crowned crane, Asiatic black bear, cinereous vulture and the long-tailed goral.
DMZ and the CCZ are bordered by land mines that prevent human activities. It is part of the East Asia flyway system of birds migrating from Russia to Australia. The white-naped crane and red-crowned crane populations are most affected.
This area is home to many other endangered animal species, including the Asian black bear, which is rated threatened on the endangered species list due to people harvesting their stomach bile and using it for Chinese herbology.
The South Korean Ministry of Environment works to keep the DMZ untouched by people to safeguard biodiversity.
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 damage. The Korean Association for the Protection of Wild Birds pushed to remove the structure, which possibly destroyed the natural ecology and caused the bank to overflow.
The Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office set up an unmanned camera and successfully captured images of wildlife. Wild animals are shown moving around the alpine wetlands and displayed actions such as hunting and territory marking. Martens were rated endangered as apex predators. This footage is the first to document local wildlife in real time. In addition, it offers scientists and government officials the opportunity to address preservation of the alpine climate.