Population of Soft Corals Along the Coast of Jeju

"Soft coral" refers collectively to corals with a soft outer surface and a flexible stem structure. The coral polyps making up the soft coral colonies along Jeju's southern coast are invertebrate animals known as "flowers of the sea." Soft corals in particular resemble the cockscomb flower found on land; being soft-bodied animals, their size varies greatly depending on whether they are contracted or expanded. In the soft coral colony areas, stony corals, horny corals, sea fans and other kinds of coral live together in a variety of forms. In the waters off Songaksan Mountain, on the side facing Daejeong-eup, a sheer rock wall runs from a depth of 3 m down to 18 m, and a soft coral colony has formed there; this is a location with strong potential for future tourist submarine operation. On the Songaksan Mountain side, soft corals form what looks like a flower village. In the waters off Seogwipo, five islands — Beomseom, Munseom, Saeseom, Supseom and Jigwido — act as a natural breakwater, and between them soft corals together with various coral polyps form magnificent colonies on the rocky seabed. Of the 132 species of coral polyps found in Korean waters, 92 inhabit the waters off Jeju, and of these, 66 are endemic species found only in Jeju's waters, forming colonies on rocky seabeds at depths of 10–30 m. The waters off Songaksan Mountain and Seogwipo in particular are a distinctive place that typifies, in a way rare even by world standards, the natural state of soft coral colonies, and they are of very great academic value in terms of distribution. At present the designated area covers 68,118,089 ㎡ of the waters off Seogwipo (Seogwipo City) and 21,987,414 ㎡ of the waters off Songaksan Mountain (Namjeju County).

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seogwipo, Jeju

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물