[Cheongsong Tourism Blossomingon the Strength of UNESCO] <4> Revalidation of Jeju IslandGlobal Geopa

Chengsong Should Follow in the Footsteps of Jeju Island, Which Succeeded in Getting the Second Revalidation

Cheongsong UNESCO Global Geopark is slated to have a revalidation inspection in 2021. Cheongsong makes all-out efforts to prepare for the inspection by organizing a team of experts in the department in charge.

Meanwhile, there was good news from Jeju Island. It is about the revalidation of JejuIsland Unesco Global Geopark. Jeju Island is an area that used UNESCO policies most appropriately in Korea, growing into an international tour destination. Jeju Island Geopark was the first to be designated as a Global Geopark in Korea before Cheongsong Geopark, and it has also succeeded in obtaining the second revalidation. Jeju Island Geopark has become an example that Cheong Geopark should follow.

◆Jeju Island Has Succeeded in Getting the Second Revalidation

On 14 last month, Jeju UNESCO Global Geopark received an official document confirming its revalidation from UNESCO and succeeded in getting the second revalidation. Jeju Island was given the designation of a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2010, for the first time in Korea, and the island obtained a revalidation in 2014. Now,Jeju Island has three UNESCO nominations (World Natural Heritage, Biosphere Reserves, Global Geopark) to have a solid international position.

Global Geoparks maintain their brand status by meeting strict revalidation standards every four years, and obtaining the revalidation is as difficult as obtaining the first designation. At present, there are 147 Global Geoparks in 41 countries. Every year, about 20 to 30 areas around the world go through inspections that assess new and revalidated UNESCO Global Geopark nominations.

This year, a total of 33 Global Geoparks received an inspection and the Carnic Alps, Austria was given a red card and lost its legal status as a Global Geopark. UNESCO has a strict revalidation process. When a Global Geopark is judged to be inadequate in a revalidation inspection, its designation period is shortened by half to two years. If the Geopark fails to improve inadequate parts within two years, its designation is cancelled.

◆Jeju Island's Thorough Preparations

Jeju UNESCO Global Geopark went through an inspection by a site inspection team from July 4 to July 6, last year. The Jeju government organized a meeting between the inspection team and Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. The governor appealed about the value of Jeju Global Geopark, its utilization in the tourism sector, residents' response and their preparations and wish for the revalidation of Jeju Island Global Geopark.

The inspection team visited major geological attractions of Jeju Global Geopark, such as SeongsanIlchulbong Tuff Cone and Suweolbong Tuff Ring, Sanbangsan Lava Dome/Yongmeori Tuff Ring and Camellia Hill, as well as Jeju World Natural Heritage Center. They checked the management status and development of the Geopark for the last four years and listened to the opinions of local people and geological commentators.

In 2014, JejuIsland received ten recommendations for improvement from UNESCO. Since then, it has implemented and completed the following plans: additional designations of geological attractions, fostering of new geological commentators, guideboard repair/maintenance, animation production, Geoschool program operation, signing of a business agreement to build a Geopark partnership, forming a consultative group with related agencies.

The revalidation of Jeju Island Global Geopark was discussed by the inspection team, sentto Jeju Island,at the 8th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks in September last year, and a green card was given to Jeju Island Geobal Geopark. This brought Jeju Island Global Geopark 90 % close to the final approval.

◆Jeju World Natural Heritage Center

Sitting on Geomunoreum, Jeju World Natural Heritage Center introduces and promotes UNESCO's three official programs—World Natural Heritage, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geopark.

The center has various symbolism. First, the center shows communion with other countries. At the center of the building is the Planning Exhibition Hall, which introduces natural environments of other countries.

The center holds the planning exhibition that introduces natural environments of different member countries of UNESCO all year round, establishing solidarity between countries and cities. UNESCO breaks down boundaries between member countries,ties them together and confers the title "country with supreme natural resources."

Jeju World Natural Heritage Center is not merely a promotion hall. It is a venue to promote state-of-the-art technologies. Visitors can get explanations about exhibit items, using quick response code (QR) and virtual reality (VR) based on augmented reality. They can also watch videos about the geology, history and culture of Jeju Island at a separate 4D movie theater.

And there is a space where visitors can touch and observe mineral resources, excavated from geological attractions of Jeju Island. It seems like a big benefit for tourists who cannot visit all geological attractions there.

Jeju World Natural Heritage Center houses administrative agencies of Jeju. There is World Heritage Headquarters under JejuSpecial Self-Governing Province, where public officers handle UNESCO-related businesses.

◆Establishment of Global Geopark Center and Related Tasks

This year, Cheongsong-gun will invest 5.2 billion won (state expenses: 4 billion won, county expenses: 1.2 billion won) in the establishment of Global Geopark Center near the gate of Juwangsan National Park. The center will be jointly operated by the Juwangsan National Park Management Office and Cheongsong-gun and used as a place to provide information on geotrailsin geological attractions (geotour), educate geological commentators and used as a promotion hall.

The center will provide information about UNESCO Global Geoparks in Korea and National Geoparks of Korea, in addition to Cheongsong UNESCO Global Geopark. Having the first geopark among inland geoparks, Cheongsong will promote the brand Global Geopark widely and develop tour programs in connection with other cities having geoparks.

Especially, Cheongsong is planning to attract foreign tourists in a new form of tourism by arranging tour courses, using the theme "geopark" and the international recognition of UNESCO and by adding existing tourism elements. The tour courses include "Visiting Korea's Geoparks," "Food Trip in Korea's Geoparks," and "Cultural Experience in Korea's Geopark."

Along with this, some say that Gyeongsangbuk-do Province needs to provide more support and attention to Cheongsong Geopark.

In Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, there are Cheongsong Geopark—a UNESCO Global Geopark and a National Geopark—Ulleungdo/Dokdo National Geopark and Gyeongbuk East Coast National Geopark, both of which can become Global Geopark. With the help of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Global Geopark Center can develop into a more robust and stable institution.