South Korea clears path for first dedicated natural heritage institute

South Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration plans to invest 119.3 billion won ($78.1 million) to build a central facility dedicated to the conservation, research and exhibition of the country's natural heritage — the largest construction project the agency has ever undertaken.

The agency said the project to establish the National Natural Heritage Institute, a research facility focused exclusively on natural heritage including natural monuments and scenic sites, has cleared a preliminary feasibility study conducted by the Ministry of Planning and Budget. Officials described the project as the first large-scale national infrastructure effort to build a systematic framework for natural heritage preservation.

Natural heritage encompasses geological formations, scenic landscapes, flora and fauna, and cultural heritage shaped through interaction with the natural environment. Examples include the dinosaur, pterosaur and bird footprint fossil site in Haenam, Dokdo, Hallasan, Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, a hackberry tree in Changwon's Bukburi, and the Jindo dog and white stork of Jindo.

In May 2024, the Cultural Heritage Administration reorganized its management framework in line with UNESCO standards, separating the traditional concept of cultural properties into three distinct categories: cultural heritage, natural heritage and intangible heritage. Since then, the need for specialized research and conservation facilities capable of responding to environmental changes such as climate change has grown, making the establishment of the National Natural Heritage Institute a top priority.

The agency has also been making the case for the project since the Korea Development Institute launched a preliminary feasibility review in December 2024. As a result, the Ministry of Planning and Budget's Fiscal Investment Evaluation Committee on Tuesday approved the project after it scored above 0.5 — the passing threshold for the comprehensive policy evaluation, known as the Analytic Hierarchy Process — recognizing the national need to establish a natural heritage conservation framework.

The National Natural Heritage Institute will be built on a 50,000-square-meter site on Eulsukdo in Saha-gu, Busan, with a total floor area of 22,969 square meters across three above-ground floors and one below-ground floor. Basic design work is set to begin in 2027, with construction targeted for completion in 2031 and an official opening planned for 2032. The total project cost of 119.3 billion won makes it the largest construction undertaking in the Cultural Heritage Administration's history.

Through the institute, the Cultural Heritage Administration aims to consolidate its expertise and carry out its full range of functions as the dedicated authority for natural heritage. Once complete, the institute will serve as the country's sole agency exclusively focused on natural heritage, performing four core functions: academic surveys, research and technology development related to natural heritage; conservation and management of habitats and disaster response; collection, management and preservation of natural heritage specimens, along with storage and exhibition for public enjoyment; and education and international exchange, including the training of specialists and the pursuit of World Natural Heritage designations.

Plans also call for the institute to work in close coordination with existing ecological and cultural facilities in the Busan area to drive regional growth. The Cultural Heritage Administration expects the institute to generate synergies by linking up with nearby infrastructure on Eulsukdo — including the Nakdonggang Estuary Eco Center, the National Youth Ecology Center and the Busan Museum of Contemporary Art — to strengthen both natural heritage conservation and public access while serving as a catalyst for regional development.

"The establishment of the National Natural Heritage Institute will mark a critical turning point in building a conservation framework for Korea's natural heritage," Commissioner Heo Min said. "We will work hard to ensure its successful construction so that it can serve as a control tower — fully researching, preserving and utilizing the precious natural heritage of the Korean Peninsula, sharing it with the current generation and passing it on to future ones."