Jeju Nature Park offers visitors a unique look at local wildlife. People can see and learn about endangered animals and plants, and even touch some of them. Joseph Kim reports.


An eagle-owl with big eyes transforms itself into a defensive posture, with its feathers ruffled to increase apparent size.

An eagle unhurriedly walks aweing visitors.

The wild animals are indigenous to Jeju and designated as endangered species.

The Jeju Nature Park opened last year and welcomes visitors who want to observe wild animals.

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Jeju Nature Park opened in 2017

It was a partial opening with 37,000 square meters open to the public, while 420,000 square meters of land is planned to be transformed into the park by 2020.

The park contains observatories for accipitrine birds, roe deer, insects and greenhouses.

The park is designed for conservation and wildlife research.

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Visitors enjoy activities, hikes

Visitors are satisfied with the park’s various hands-on programs.

On the trekking path around the park, visitors can enjoy nature on the nearby (오름) oreum.

INTERVIEW
Kim Eun-mi / Manager, Jeju Nature Park
We protect endangered wild birds that, for various reasons, can’t live in nature. We also help people understand what’s happening to the creatures. Students can touch insects and frogs to learn more about nature.
<인터뷰 : 김은미 / 제주자연생태공원 소장>
"여러가지 이유로 자연에서 살아가지 못하는 새들을 보호하면서 사람들에게 현재의 상황을 이해도 시키고 있고요. 학생들은 여기에 와서 곤충과 개구리 등을 만져보면서 자연을 느낄 수 있는 곳입니다."

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Kim Yong-min

The province is planning to spend an additional 600 million won of national funding this year to create a place for hands-on programs for kids and the official opening will be held in 2020.

Joseph Kim, KCTV