• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-101
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• 2021

This study attempted to conduct the study from a macro perspective more specifically through the temporal and spatial analysis of Minbuk villages according to a change in a Civilian Control Line, such as a social and spatial distribution and a change of the existing Minbuk villages. To this end, this study conducted the spatial analysis for the change in the Minbuk villages according to the adjustment of the Civilian Control Line in time series by using a map of the Armistice Agreement Vol. 2, Google Earth, a digital cadastral map, an administrative district map, and the like are used as spatial data, and summarizing and constructing, as attribute data, a statistical yearbook, Ministry of Defense and Cheorwon-Gun notification data, a Land Use Regulation Information System, and cadastral map attribute information. After the enactment of the Military Facility Protection Act, the analysis was performed on a 20-year basis based on the 1976 statistical yearbook of which the Civilian Control Line was drawn. As a result, the total area of the Civilian Control Zone in Cheorwon from 1975 to 2015 decreased by 105.8 km², and 9 of 14 Minbuk villages were released and only 6 villages existed. The unoccupied villages were analyzed as 14 villages, 10 fewer than the existing surveyed or statistical villages. The movement of the Civilian Control Line to the north may disappear the unique characteristics of the Minbuk villages but should be done carefully as it is closely related to the lives of the current residents, and policies should be established in terms of sustainable development and conservation of the villages. This study is significant in conducting the temporal and spatial analysis, which is the basis of the Minbuk regions and the Minbuk villages, and may be used as basic data necessary for subsequent analysis study.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.307-322
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• 2020

This study was conducted to obtain information relevant to resolving problems related to artificially introduced plants in ecological restoration projects. We investigated artificially introduced plants and plants growing naturally from its surroundings in the active restoration sites of the Ecosystem Conservation Fund Return Project (ECFRP) of the Ministry of Environment and the Civilian Control Zone Forest Restoration Project (CCZFRP) of the Korea Forest Service. We also analyzed the characteristics of native, exotic, and cultivated plants in addition to their Raunkiaer's life forms. Furthermore, we compared the planted areas and inhabited areas, as well as the characteristics of the habitats of native plants among the planted plants. We found that among the plants planted in the ECFRP, 50.4% were native, 6.8% were exotic, and 42.9% were cultivated. Meanwhile, in the CCZFRP, 78.6% were native, 21.4% were exotic. We also noted that many native plants were found in the planted areas that were far from their habitats. In addition, we identified many native plants that were planted in areas judged to have characteristics different from that of their natural habitat. In the case of Raunkiaer's life forms, the planted plants showed high ratios of megaphanerophytes (MM) and microphanerophytes (N), while the invasive plants showed high ratios of therophytes (Th) and hemicryptophytes (H). When restoring the ecosystem, the ratio of planting native plants should be higher than that of exotic or cultivated plants. Moreover, the habitats and ecological characteristics should be considered when selecting native plants to enhance the effect of ecological restoration.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.268-287
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• 2022

This study reports newly discovered seven forest wetlands in the western part of the Korean Demilitarized Zone-Civilian Control Zone ecoregion. The wetland assessment criteria proposed by National Arboretum were adopted to evaluate four fields: vegetation and landscape, biogeochemical cycle, hydraulics and hydrology, and social-cultural-historical landscape and disturbances. Among seven wetlands located in Gimpo and Paju, five were of the fallow field type and two were of the natural type. A total of 474 plant species were recorded, including nine rare plants, such as the Carex capricornis Meinsh. ex Maxim. Three forest wetlands were sorted into A-grade, three into B-grade, and one into C-grade. Monitoring forest wetlands scattered across the border area ruled by military regulations can be challenging; still, as forest wetlands with high conservation value turned out, further investigations through remote sensing and cooperation by the relevant agencies will be required.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.272-287
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• 2019

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established in 1953 by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. It extends from the estuary of the Imjin River, in the west, to the coast of the East Sea. It is 4 km in width and 148 km in length. However, the ecosystems of the civilian control zone (CCZ) located between the southern border of the DMZ and the civilian control line (CCL) and the CCZ in the estuary of the Han River and the Yellow Sea are similar to those in the DMZ, and, therefore, the ecosystems of the DMZ and the CCZ are collectively known as the "ecosystems of the DMZ and its vicinities." The flora in the DMZ and its vicinities is composed of 1,864 species, which accounts for about 42% of all the vascular plant species on the Korean Peninsula and its affiliated islands. Conducting a detailed survey on the vegetation, flora, and fauna in the DMZ is almost impossible due to the presence of landmines and limitations on the time allowed to be spent in the DMZ. However, to assess the environmental impact of the Munsan-Gaesong railroad reconstruction project, it was possible to undertake a limited vegetation survey within the DMZ in 2001. The vegetation in Jangdan-myeon, in Paju City within the DMZ, was very simple. It was mostly secondary forests dominated by oaks such as Quercus mongolica, Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis. The other half of the DMZ in Jangdan-myeon was occupied by grassland composed of tall grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis, M. sacchariflorus, and Phragmites japonica. Contrary to the expectation that the DMZ may be covered with pristine mature forests due to more than 60 years of no human interference, the vegetation in the DMZ was composed of simple secondary forests and grasslands formed on former rice paddies and agricultural fields. At present, the only legal protection system planned for the DMZ is the Natural Environment Conservation Act, which ensures that the DMZ would be managed as a nature reserve for only two years following Korean reunification. Therefore, firstly, the DMZ should be designated as a site of domestic legally protected areas such as nature reserve (natural monument), scenic site, national park, etc. In addition, we need to try to designate the DMZ as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or as a World Heritage site, or as a Ramsar international wetland for international cooperation. For nomination as a world heritage site, we can emphasize the ecological and landscape value of the wetlands converted from the former rice paddies and the secondary forests maintained by frequent fires initiated by military activities. If the two Koreas unexpectedly reunite without any measures in place for the protection of nature in the DMZ, the conditions prior to the Korean War, such as rice paddies and villages, will return. In order to maintain the current condition of the ecosystems in the DMZ, we have to discuss and prepare for measures including the retention of mines and barbed-wire fences, the construction of roads and railroads in the form of tunnels or bridges, and the maintenance of the current fire regime in the DMZ.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.311-338
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• 2021

This study was investigated to find out the distribution of vascular flora and remarkable plants and its factors and management plan in the forest genetic resource reserve of Mt. Munsu, located in the DMZ and DMZ border area in Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do province. The survey was carried out 17 times from April 2019 to October 2020. First of all, in the forest genetic resource reserve of the Mt. Munsu, a total of 444 taxa in 95 families, 276 genera, 395 species, 13 subspecies, 33 varieties and 3 forms. This result was found to be about 9.09% of the total 4,881 taxa of vascular plants in Korea. In addition, endemic plants were classified as 6 taxa. Floristic special and rare plants were identified as 39 taxa and 3 taxa, respectively. Lastly, the invasive alien plants that appeared in Mt. Munsu of the forest genetic resource reserve were observed in 58 taxa. Moreover, the naturalization rate was 13.1% and the urbanization index was calculated to be 18.0%. As a result of comparing the vascular flora at the forest genetic resource reserve on Mt. Munsu identified in this study with previous studies, it was found the number of taxa was decreased compared to the previous studies, despite the fact that the recent survey section was wider and more varies routes were investigated. In particular, it was confirmed that the number of rare and endemic plants decreased significantly, and the number of invasive plants greatly spread to forest roads and hiking trails. Therefore, it is considered that the forest rest year system should be introduced for the conservation and management of native plants in the forest genetic resource reserve.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.11-46
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• 2022

This study was carried out to examine vascular plants and invasive alien plants in Gyodong Island, located at the northwestern Civilian Control Line (CCL) of Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, and to use them as basic data for systematic management of identified plants and establishing biodiversity conservation measures. The survey was conducted 13 times from April 2019 to August 2021. The vascularflora in Gyodong Island was identified as 109 families, 378 genera, 641 species, 15 subspecies, 49 variants, 8 forma, a total of 713 taxa. This was found to be about 15.36% of the total 4,641 taxa of vascular plants in Korea. The northern linage plants on the Korean Peninsula appearing in the Gyodong Island area were identified in 83 classification groups, including Red-based leaf edge (Carex erythrobasis H.Lev. & Vaniot). Korea endemic plants were identified as 16 taxa such as Seoul wild-ginger [Asarum heterotropoides var. seoulense (Nakai) Kitag.], and a total of 20 taxa of rare plants designated by IUCN were observed, including the endangered grade Beardless iris (Iris ruthenica Ker Gawl.). Floristic target species were classified with a total of 99 taxa. For V grade, Beardless iris 1 taxon was found. and also IV grade and III grade were identified in 8 taxa and 20 taxa respectively. The invasive alien plants identified as 75 taxa, such as Verbesina alternifolia (L.) Britton ex Kearney. The naturalization rate was 10.51%, and the urbanization index was calculated as 23.29%. Since large-scale construction has been currently underway on Hwagae Mt. in Gyodong Island as the target of survey area, the influx of invasive plants will be expected to promote. Therefore, it is urgent to establish in-situ protection and conservation measures for notable plants such as Beardless iris and Water smartweed [Persicaria amphibia (L.) S.F.Gray].