Jeju: eco-wonder of the world 05 January 2012 | News story The
largest island of South Korea, Jeju is a crown jewel of the
Yellow Sea. Wind-swept palm trees, sandy beaches and volcanic
landscapes – not to forget a unique local culture – will be the
stunning backdrop to the 2012 World Conservation Congress next
September. “Jeju, as the venue for the IUCN World Conservation
Congress, is a thriving place for ecology as well as cultural
sites,” says Chong-Chun Kim, Secretary General of the Korean
Organizing Committee for the 2012 World Conservation Congress.
“IUCN sets 14 requirements to qualify as a host for the event
and, when the Korean Ministry of Environment together with the
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province submitted an application,
Jeju was found to be the best in fulfilling these.” With
ecosystems that remain largely untouched, it is no surprise that
Jeju figures as a finalist to become a New Wonder of the World.
Its geological make-up displays rare volcanic formations, giving
rise to the country’s ta