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. Since the successful implementation of the project to restore Asiatic Black Bears in Mt. Jirisan, Special Protection Zones (SPZs) have been expanded within the national park. These zones now cover 19.89 km², accounting for 40.5% of the entire Jirisan National Park (483 km²). In 2021, the Green List certification for Jirisan Park was renewed.

Jirisan, the also the first established national park in the Republic of Korea, is known as the “mountain of life” due to its rich biodiversity and cultural assets. The park not only conserves the globally threatened Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) but also protects many other ecologically significant species. Additionally, it safeguards over 300 cultural sites, including Sanggyesa Temple, one of the major temples in the country.

The restoration of the Asiatic black bear, a symbol of endangered wildlife restoration policies, holds significance not only for enhancing the health of the natural ecosystem but also for preserving the historical and cultural value associated with the restoration of a large mammal recognised as a core element of Korean heritage, such as its connection to the Dangun myth.

The Ministry of Environment (led by Minister Kim Wan-seop) and the Korea National Park Service (led by Chairman Song Hyung-geun) hosted a 20th-anniversary commemoration event and academic symposium under the theme “20 Years of Coexistence in Asiatic Black Bear Restoration: Harmony of Humans and Nature” from October 30 to November 1 in Seoul and the Jirisan National Park area.

The symposium was attended by experts from the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� SSG Committee’s Bear Specialist Group, who discussed the achievements and key issues of the restoration project, research on the reintroduced Asiatic black bears in Korea, efforts to secure genetic diversity, progress and outcomes of artificial insemination research, strategies to prevent and mitigate damage caused by bears, and the bears’ adaptation to the ecosystem.

KNPS

20th Anniversary of Asiatic Black Bear Restoration Project. Photo: KNPS

Additionally, the symposium featured international presentations and discussions on topics such as the restoration status of endangered species in protected areas, the conservation efforts for Formosan black bears in Taiwan and the key activities of the Taiwan Black Bear Conservation Association (TBBCA), the distribution and conservation activities for the world’s seven terrestrial bear species, bear distribution and wildlife management strategies in Japan, the Bear Smart Program for human-bear conflict management in Canada, and Italy's measures to address problematic bears.

To further celebrate the 20th anniversary and raise public awareness about the restoration project's significance, the Ministry of Environment and the Korea National Park Service organised various events across the country.

Highlights included exhibitions of character sculptures and souvenir shops featuring the Asiatic black bear and other flagship restored species such as the goral and fox at HDC I’Park Mall in Seoul. Additional events, such as an Asiatic black bear drawing contest, illegal trap collection campaigns, and experiential programs linked to local festivals in areas near Jirisan National Park (Sancheong and Hamyang), took place over two months starting in September. From November 5 to the end of the year, a special exhibition at the Gyeryongsan National Park Museum in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, showcased the Asiatic black bear's representation in Korean history and folklore.

Lee Byeong-hwa, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environment, stated, “The successful return of the Asiatic black bear has enhanced ecosystem health and laid the foundation for coexistence between humans and nature. Moving forward, we will actively pursue restoration policies to ensure that numerous endangered species, including the Asiatic black bear, do not disappear from our surroundings.”

KNPS

A Young Asiatic Black Bear Learning from Its Mother. Photo Credit: Korea National Park Service (KNPS)