Gyeonggi Province "Welcomes UNESCO World Geopark Designation for Hantan River"

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province has expressed its welcome to the UNESCO World Geopark designation for the Hantan River.

The province issued a statement on the 8th containing these positions and explained the multidisciplinary significance of the Hantan River. The province also expressed its commitment to developing it into a representative attraction of Korea.

Below is the full text of the Gyeonggi Province statement.

We welcome the UNESCO World Geopark designation for the Hantan River.

On the 29th of last month, the 209th UNESCO Executive Board meeting gave final approval for the Hantan River World Geopark certification. Gyeonggi Province regards UNESCO's decision recognizing the aesthetic, archaeological, historical, cultural, ecological, and geological value of the Hantan River basin with great significance and warmly welcomes it.
This UNESCO World Geopark designation is all the more meaningful as it is an achievement accomplished through close cooperation among local governments including Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province, as well as Pocheon City, Yeoncheon County, and Cheorwon County. Since the local governments, including Gyeonggi Province, signed a mutual cooperation agreement in March 2016, they have engaged in various activities including joint academic research projects.
The area certified by UNESCO encompasses 493.24 km² in the Pocheon City basin, 273.65 km² in Yeoncheon County basin, and 398.72 km² in Gangwon Province's Cheorwon County basin, totaling 1,165.61 km².
The Hantan River basin is a location with rare geological natural environments such as columnar jointing and pillow lava formed by lava that erupted 500,000 to 100,000 years ago, as well as historically and culturally valuable attractions ranging from the Jungok-ri Prehistoric Site to the Goguryeo Dangpo Fortress and the Peace Observatory.
Gyeonggi Province will do its utmost to develop the Hantan River basin into a representative attraction of Korea that visitors from around the world seek out.
July 8, 2020
Gyeonggi Province