[International i Journal = Reporter Ma Hyeseong from Yeoui Peak, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea]Cheongsong-gun, a geological repository having natural conditions, was registered for the UNESCO Global Geoparks for the 2nd time in Korea next to Jeju Island.

▲ Cheongsong-gun registered for the UNESCO Global Geoparks at last! ⓒIIJ

As a result, Cheongsong-gun will be entitled to the status as the UNESCO Global Geoparks for 4 years from May 5, 2017.

Cheongsong County, which was recommended to be registered by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Committee last December, was finally adopted as the UNESCO Global Geoparks at the UNESCO Executive Council held in Paris, France at 4:30 pm on May 1, 2017 local time.

A total of 33 places have been designated as UNESCO Global Geoparks over 127 countries in the world, and 8 places in 8 countries including France, Iran, and Spain were newly added to the list of Global Geoparks along with Cheongsong.

As a result, Cheongsong-gun paved the way for growing into a tourist site whose geological value is recognized through nature conservation and utilization of its tourism resources.

Preserving lithium-bearing tosudite minerals massively, which are present in a very small amount only in less than 10 regions of the world and possessing spherulitic rhyolite, the so-called "flower stone", Cheongsong-gun has been evaluated as the optimum place for geology study in the world in the screening course of Global Geoparks.

In particular, the Juwangsan National Park is made up of one of the thickest volcanic ash layers in the world, and the Juwangsan Valley Geology Trail has been highly appreciated by the evaluation committee because the convenience facilities are designed well enough to facilitate the visit of the elderly or handicapped.

Also, Beopsudoseok (Stone) Geosite, the home of Cheongsong Porcelain raw materials, is an area where geology, history, and culture are mixed well to become a region that suits the concept of Geoparks most.

Apples, one of the representative resources of Cheongsong, are worthy of being used as geological food because they are grown on a hardened ground where the ejecta from volcanic activities that shook the southeastern part of the Korean Cretaceous Peninsula has been piled up.

However, as the Global Geoparks should be re-certified every 4 years, we are also under pressure to make constant efforts and achievements in order to revitalize this Global Geoparks.

With regard to the registration for Global Geoparks, Cheongsong County Governor Han Sang-soo said, "We will utilize the brand value of UNESCO to improve the awareness of Cheongsong and attract tourists" and added, "We will induce stay type tours to create income and open the era of sustainable future development.”

여의봉, 마혜성/번역 : 이진  yeu3030@naver.com

<저작권자 © 국제i저널, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지>