A few weeks ago, The New York Times reported that a deadly plane crash near Muan was caused by bird strikes. The birds involved were among the species that rely on the Getbol to survive. Scientists had warned for years that building airports in these areas would be dangerous. No one listened and worse, plans for building more airports in similar areas go on undeterred.
Until recently, I had never heard of Korea’s Getbol wetlands. I first read about them here and I haven’t stopped thinking about them since.
I’ve always loved Korea’s natural beauty. On earlier visits, I wrote about hiking the mountains around Seoul and how those trails made me feel grounded and small. They were what first drew me into Korea’s landscapes. But the more time I spend there, the more I realize how much of Korea’s nature exists quietly, out of sight—and how much of it is at risk.
What are the Getbol Wetlands?
The Getbol are tidal mudflats stretching along Korea’s western and southern coasts. They were designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, and are far more important than they look. They filter water, support marine life, and—most critically—provide a vital resting and feeding ground for birds migrating thousands of miles between the Arctic and Southeast Asia. Over 22 globally threatened species rely heavily on the Getbol, which makes their threatening all the more harmful to international biodiversity.
Essential to Global Bird Migration
Every year, millions of birds travel along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. Korea’s Getbol is one of the few safe places where they can stop, feed, and rest. Without these wetlands, many won’t survive the journey. Some of these birds are already endangered. The loss of the Getbol isn’t just a Korean issue—it threatens an entire global migration system.
The far eastern curlew is one of hundreds of species that relies on the Getbol Wetlands
The Muan Crash Could Have Been Prevented
Last December, a plane went down near Muan Airport. The cause was bird strikes. The airport sits directly on a migratory path, and experts had warned about the dangers years ago. Despite that, the airport was built, and now there are plans for at least ten more, even though many existing airports are underused. This isn’t a theoretical risk. It’s happening now.
The Muan tragedy was caused by a birdstrike, a risk that increases as the birds’ predictable migration patterns are changed
The Getbol is Part of Korea’s Heritage
Korea is often associated with its mountains, but the Getbol have quietly shaped coastal life for generations. Families gather shellfish there. Local economies depend on them. Their rhythms are woven into daily life. They may not be widely known, but to the people who live nearby, they are deeply familiar, and their disappearance is deeply alarming.
The Getbol aren’t dramatic. They don’t show up on postcards or tourism ads. To most eyes, they look like stretches of mud and water. But they’re alive—and doing critical work. They protect coastlines. They sustain biodiversity. And once development starts, they vanish quickly. Most people don’t notice until they’re already gone.
What We Can Do
As a Korean American, I’ve watched Korea become more visible globally through tech, pop culture, food, and fashion. That visibility has brought new opportunities—and new challenges, like the recent tariffs targeting Korean EVs. But not everything that matters about Korea is exportable. The Getbol won’t go viral. They aren’t part of Hallyu. But they are part of Korea. If we care about Korea, we should care about the Getbol, too.
There are no simple solutions to offer. But the more I learn about Korea’s landscapes, the more I realize how much is vanishing—not from sudden disasters, but from slow neglect.
The Getbol won’t disappear all at once. They will fade away, quietly, until one day they’re irreparably damaged. And when we finally notice what we’ve lost, it will already be too late.
If you wish to help, you can send emails to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) or to the U.S government. You can also contact UNESCO, which still has an agreement with the Korean government for the protection of the Getbol, one that the government has repeatedly sidestepped.
