[The Hwankyung Ilbo] Song Ok-joo, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 20th that the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries designated the 14.08 square kilometers of the Maehyang-ri mudflat in Hwaseong as a wetland protection area due to its high biodiversity, which includes salt plants. The designation of wetland protection area was the 21st general election pledge pushed by Rep. Song Ok-joo since 2018.

The mudflat in Maehyang-ri, Hwaseong, was evaluated as a highly biodiversity-rich area, with more than 20 species of salivary plants, including turkey colonies, 169 species of large book animals such as oysters and willows, and the emergence of marine conservation jowl.

If designated as a wetland protection area, the abundant marine ecological resources of tidal flats can be more systematically preserved and managed. 

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to establish a five-year management plan centered on local communities by the first half of 2022 for systematic conservation and management.

In particular, it will manage and develop into a place of natural and eco-friendly eco-tourism and education by utilizing various salt plants such as turkey and sea birds such as spoonbills.

Rep. Song Ok-joo said, "I am delighted that Maehyang-ri mudflats, which are rich in biodiversity, can be more systematically preserved and managed. I am deeply moved to keep my promise to the people of Hwaseong after making a project that is desperately needed for Hwaseong."

"We will not be satisfied with the designation of the Hwaseong Wetland Protection Area of Maehyang-ri Tidal Flats and will work harder to be list is as a world-class Ramsar Wetland and World Heritage Site," he said.

With the designation of wetland protection areas in Maehyang-ri, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, Korea will have a total of 31 marine protection zones, 14 coastal wetland protection areas, two marine life protection zones, and one marine landscape protection zone. The area has also increased to 1798.4 square kilometers, 2.96 times the size of 605.25 square kilometers in Seoul.