Proposal for Ullungdo and Tokto to Become National Parks.

A renowned environmentalist has asked for the islands of Tokto and Ullungdo to be designated as national parks.
Kim Jong-won, a professor of ecology at Keimyung University, made this request to the Korean government at a conference for environmental policies in the 21st century. Kim pointed out the importance of these islands to the environment.
Kim said, "Designating Tokto as a national park will not only protect its environment, but also our claim to the island."
He said that Tokto meets the requirements to become a national park, including the presence of rare indigenous trees like the somjot, the solsong, and the Sombackri, which make up 36 percent of the island. Kim added that Tokto's flora is incredibly diverse, having both polar plants and tropical plants, making Tokto a living educational site.
At the conference, Kim also presented essays on the South-North Korean study of Bakdoodaegan and a proposed environmental research center for the two Koreas.

by Son yee-ho