"Jeju Island is one of few places on Earth where the pristine nature is still well-preserved. It is like returning to the beautiful place where you fell in love with its beauty on the first visit. Jeju deserves to become one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature," said Nobel Laureate in Literature, Jean Marie Gustave Le Clezio. Jeju Island is in the running to become one of "New 7 Wonders of Nature."
throughout the island. Jeju is receiving enthusiastic support to be designated as one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature."
Renowned public figures at home and abroad have asked to take a role as honorary ambassadors. The support for Jeju comes from a cross-section of Korean society, including major Korean companies such as Samsung, LG, and KT, sports organizations such as the Korea Baseball Organization and the Korean Professional Football League, and religious circles such as the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Committees to promote Jeju have been set up in not only in the Korean cities Busan, Ulsan, Kyungnam, and Gyeong-gi, but also LA, San Diego, Toronto, Tokyo and Beijing. Korea IT times interviewed Woo Geun-min, Governor of Jeju, whose priority is to promote Jeju and Korean tourism through the interest generated worldwide by the hunt for the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" designation.
Q : Why is Jeju Island, one of the finalists of "New 7 Wonders of Nature "campaign, getting so much attention from the
world
A : The 20th century was a development-oriented era, but this has changed in the 21st century. This is the era of Green Growth, where preservation of environment is highly valued. Within this trend, Jeju Island's prestigious qualities such as its clean and well-preserved environment, beautiful scenery, and bioresources are being more and more acknowledged. Jeju is the only place in the world to be awarded 3 designations by UNESCO, being named a World Bio Sphere Reserve, a Natural Heritage Site and a Global Geopark. Also, Jeju has four wetland areas registered on the Ramsar list of conservation, which makes this island even more precious. The New 7 Wonders of Nature Foundation suggested seven themes as selection criteria: island, volcano, waterfall, forest, beach, cave, and national park. Jeju is the only candidate to meet all the criteria. Most of all, Jeju has found its own way for human culture to co-exist with nature, so it has
become a place for both nature and human to live together harmoniously. This quality is best represented by the culture of Haenyeo, female divers who plunge into the sea without any diving equipment to harvest shellfish or abalone. Some research suggests that Jeju is the origin of Haenyeo, and major news media such as the LA Times and CNN have spotlighted Haenyeo culture in their feature articles. I believe Haenyo culture, which exemplifies the harmony of humans and nature, demonstrates the qualities necessary to be registered as a Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. In my opinion, the unique mixture of traditional values and charming nature is what makes Jeju island so attractive.
Q : What is the most beneficial gift Jeju offers its visitors
A : According to a poll conducted by a major Chinese media outlet, Jeju was voted as one of the three islands that Chinese tourists most want to visit. Former Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji wrote in his biography that Jeju's landscape is the best in the world. The 2008 Nobel Laureate in Literature Clezio described Jeju as the island of fantasy. The founder of the New 7 Wonders Foundation, Bernard Weber said he was so impressed by Jeju that he visited Jeju Stone Park twice. Also there are plenty of people who think Jeju itself is a precious gift of humanity. The best example of Jeju's value is Olle hiking trail, which attracts numerous tourists. The Olle hiking trail won the Korea Tourism Award 2010's grand prize. While hiking along this trail, walkers can experience elements of Jeju's nature and culture firsthand, which were credited by UNESCO. I believe Jeju provides visitors with a perfect opportunity to relax, heal, recover and make wonderful memories in nature.
Q : What are the estimated effects of becoming one of New 7 Wonders of Nature
A : It will elevate Jeju's brand power and boost Korean tourism to reach the goal of 2 million tourists. Within a year after being voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the number of visitors to Machu Picchu in Peru and Chichen Itza in Mexico increased by 70 to 75 percent.Especially Jeju's distinctive geological resources, parasitic volcanoes, timberlines and volcanic caves, will become new engines for advancing Jeju's eco-tourism. This will also be new opportunity to improve Korea's image, as a mostly development and exportcentered country, as an environmentalfriendly nation.
Q : But this will also come with the responsibility to preserve Jeju's wonderful landscape.
A : I would gladly take the responsibility. Being voted as one of the new 7 wonders of nature is one way to protect Jeju's pristine nature. I am well aware that preserving Jeju's environment comes before the benefits of development. Thus "preservation first, development last' is the center of my environmental policy. I can proudly say Jeju's GIS eco-preserve grading system to manage and conserve the environment is one of the most advanced systems in the world. We launched a team to manage all three UNESCO World Natural Heritage Properties in Jeju. Also the Jeju 2012 World Conservation Congress will be the place to re-affirm Jeju's environmental values and its vision.
Q : How can we participate in the vote
A : There are three ways to vote for Jeju. First of all, you can vote by calling the number: 001-1588-7751. Choose your language according to the introduction and press 7715 to vote for Jeju. It costs KRW 180 for each phone call. Secondly, you can vote by sending a text message to 011-1588-7715. Send 'jeju' or 'JEJU', each text costs you KRW 150. Thirdly, you can vote on the website of theNew 7 Wonders Foundation (www.n7w.com), by using your email address.
