Linda Bates 11-13-13 The Cultural and Biodiversity of South Korea Historically, South Korea has had people

dwelling on its land for centuries. One example is the remnants from an early village dated to the 16th century have been protected by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea; a government agency. Located near the Nakdonggang River and Mount Hwasan, this community named Hahoe Village is a great example of how the Pungsan Ryu Clan utilized the stream waters to cultivate crops of rice in the early Joseon Dynasty. From the nearby mountains, the Ryu Clan used wood and tile to build dwellings such as: academies for education and study, granaries for storing food, mens and womens quarters, libraries, and aristocratic houses. Other homes were built out of wood and mud with thatched roofs made out of rice straw (CHA, 2013). Fish from the stream supplemented their diets. There are many sites around Korea that are as interesting valuable as Hahoe Village. They utilized the resources that the surrounding land had provided. The areas closer to coastal lands utilized more fish and seafood as a basis for their diet. Traditionally, Korea was known as a hermit society because it discouraged trade with the western world and its outside influences. That all changed in 1945-1948 when World War II ended and Japan no longer occupied South Korea. The U.S. aided Korea in establishing its own government. Over time, various administrations have been created to serve the diverse needs of the Korean people. In 1968 the Cultural Administration of Korea was established to help monitor and care for the traditional and ancient burial sites and structures that are present throughout the Korean peninsula. In modern times, the rise of a more industrialized culture has posed many threats to cultural and biodiversity in South Korea. More and more people are leaving rural farming and

Linda Bates 11-13-13 fishing areas in order to find work in factories and other urban areas. In the biodiversity aspect, fish and streams have been impacted in a negative way because of chemical runoff from nearby factories (Ju-Duk, p.175). The expansion of urban environments has reduced available land that was used for producing crops and preserving the woodland areas. In response to high pollution levels the Ministry of Environment, was created by the South Korean Government in the 1980s in order to create public policy that encouraged pollution reduction. Over time, the Ministry of Environment has expanded its mission to include many departments such as: the Nature Conservation Bureau, Water Environment Management Bureau, Water Supply and Sewage Policy Office, and the National Ecological Institute Planning Office. These many sub-organizations are designed to collect and monitor data regarding the various aspects of biodiversity in South Korea (2013). Some of the Ministry of Environment objectives are to promote awareness, to create laws that protect the environment, and to educate all entities to take responsibility and avoid or change environmentally destructive practices. After researching the variety of issues and policies that are associated with the cultural and biodiversity of South Korea, it is impressive to see how environmentally aware and committed the government and its people are to the changing the negative impacts of their lifestyles and striving to find more positive solutions. Through careful research, planning, and implementation of good practices, the Korean biodiversity and identity can be preserved.

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References The Ministry of Environment (2013). Organization Chart. Retrieved from: http://eng.me.go.kr/main.do Ju-Duk Y., Min-Ho J., Hyun-Woo K., Gea-Jae J. (2012). Fish Biodiversity Monitoring in Rivers Of South Korea. Retrieved from: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-4-431-54032-8_13 Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea (2006). History. Retrieved from: http://jikimi.cha.go.kr/english/about_new/history.jsp?mc=EN_02_05 Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea (2013). World Heritage. Retrieved from: http://jikimi.cha.go.kr/english/world_heritage_new/culture_treasure_10.jsp?mc=EN_04_ 01 Rho, P. (2007). Nature and Biodiversity Management in Korea: A Policy Perspective. Retrieved from: http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Library/Colloquium_10/Presentations/10-10-1150_Nature_and_Biodiversity_management_in_Korea.pdf