Natural monuments of South Korea
This is a partial list of natural monuments of South Korea. By 2009 a total of 576 animal, plants, landforms, geological formations, and nature reserves had been designated by the Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea as natural monuments. Only 404 of these continue to maintain their designation.
1-50
51-100
100-200
200-300
400-500
| Number | Name | Location | Description | Ref |
| 453 | Korean terrapin | Nationwide | The Korean terrapin is a turtle that inhabits unpolluted mountain streams and is found in Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. The carapace is brown, measuring 20-25 cm long and shaped like an elongated oval. The edges are smooth with a yellowish-green band around the edges and a faint black pattern, which is unusual. There is a low ridge down the back, which is covered in small black scales with uneven vertical lines at the ends of the sides. The four limbs are covered in wide scales. The turtle lives in freshwater and is omnivorous, eating fish, crustacea, and aquatic plants. Between June and August it digs a hole in the sand and lays 5-15 eggs. This turtle often appeared in old folk paintings, as it was once a very common reptile in rivers around the country. Numbers, however, are dropping rapidly due to pollution and modification of river habitats, collection of aggregate from rivers, diminishing of forests, and spread of foreign species. In addition, the number has dropped further through uncontrolled hunting of the turtles for use in folk remedies and herbal medicine. The turtles are said to be good for nutrition, strength and vitality. | |
| 473 | Pine Tree Forest in Hahoe, Andong | Hahoe, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do | A grove of pine trees alongside the Nakdong River. Serving as a wind break and flood defense, the current forest was replanted about a century ago, and the trees now reach a height of to. It was originally planted by Ryu Unryong in the Joseon Dynasty to mitigate the geomantic energy coming from Buyongdae, a cliff opposite the village of Hahoe, and is named "Forest of Ten Thousand Pines". A festival for the forest is held in the seventh month of the lunar calendar. | |
| 485 | Plum Tree of Hwaeomsa Temple in Gurye | Hwangjeon-ri, Masan-myeon, Gurye, Jeollanam-do | A Chinese plum tree at Gilsangam, a hermitage of the Buddhist temple Hwaeomsa. The tree is located amongst a forest of bamboo trees along the approach to the hermitage, and is accompanied by a small lotus pond. Reaching a height of, the tree is estimated to be about 450 years old. According to tradition, it was originally one of four plum trees brought from China and planted on the temple grounds, though the other three have since died. |