Wildlife of
South Korea

South Korea is a small country located in East Asia. Bounded on three sides by the sea, it also shares a long land border with the formerly unified country of North Korea. Beyond the dense cities, the countryside teems with unique wildlife. Approximately 70% of the country is covered by hills and mountains, including the three largest ranges of Taebaek, Sobaek, and Jiri Massif. The remaining landmass is covered by grassland, wetland, and forest biomes.

Once farmland, the region between South and North Korea (DMZ) has remained untouched since the end of hostilities and has reverted to an almost pristine state to create a refuge for wildlife. In addition to forests, the area includes wetlands and estuaries frequented by migratory birds. Hundreds of bird species enjoy the sanctuary – among them several endangered cranes. Asiatic black bears, lynxes, and other mammals also inhabit the region.

The Official National (State) Animal of South Korea

The Siberian tiger is the official national animal of South Korea. An important historical and cultural symbol, the tiger, unfortunately, hasn’t existed in Korea since the early 20th century. The animal, once a very real presence in the mountains and valleys, vanished in the 1940s after being hunted to extinction.

In addition, the Korean magpie is the national bird of South Korea. A relative of the crow, the magpie is a symbol of luck and good fortune. It also served a similar mythological purpose as the tooth fairy.

Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in South Korea

South Korea has more than 20 beautiful national parks across the country’s rich biomes. They still contain plenty of undisturbed wild animals for visitors to experience and explore. Here’s just a small list of them.

• The Dadohaehaesang National Park, located in the southwest province of Jeollanam-do, is the largest national park in the entire country. It contains 140 species of birds and 150 marine fish.
• The pristine mountain park of Seoraksan, located in the northeastern province of Gangwon, contains otters, musk deer, flying squirrels, kestrels, and other types of birds.
• Bukhansan is one of the closest national parks to the capital of Seoul. Surrounding its dense forests, ancient temples, and granite peaks, the park offers a sublime spot from which to view boar, deer, woodpeckers, and more.
• The Songnisan National Park, located in the center of the Sobaek Mountains, harbors many interesting species such as the small-eared cat, otter, marten, and mandarin duck.
• Other notable wildlife areas include the Hallasan National Park on Jeju Island, the Jirisan National Park and the Hallyeohaesang National Park in the country’s south, and Juwangsan National Park in North Gyeongsang province.

The Most Dangerous Animals in South Korea Today

South Korea is relatively free of large carnivores that may pose a danger to people. But a few venomous insects and snakes can still be found throughout the country.

• Asian Giant Hornet – Having gained notoriety worldwide as the “murder hornet,” the Asian giant hornet can deliver a painful neurotoxin. While a single hornet cannot produce these toxins in sufficient quantities to kill a human, multiple stings can be life-threatening to non-allergic people in very rare circumstances. The threat is multiplied in people with allergies. Fortunately, only a handful of people die every year from their stings.
• Japanese Pit Viper – Also known as the mamushi, this snake is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Death is relatively rare, but it can deliver a painful toxin that may require a week of treatment in the hospital.
• Yellow-bellied Sea Snake – Located throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region, the yellow-bellied sea snake has a highly potent toxin that may cause muscle pain, stiffness, vomiting, and drowsiness. In very rare cases, it can lead to paralysis and death. Anyone bitten by this species needs to seek immediate medical attention.

Largest Animal in South Korea

The Asiatic black bear, also known as the moon bear, is native to South Korean forested hills and mountains and can be found throughout Asia. This bear has a glossy black coat with a light-colored marking shaped like a crescent moon on its chest. Its long neck and shoulder hair looks like a cropped mane.

This omnivorous bear eats insects, fruit, nuts, bees and honey, small mammals, birds, and carrion. An adult male weighs 100-200 kg (220 – 440 pounds) while females are half that size. Asiatic black bears live as long as 25 years in the wild and up to 39 years in captivity.

Excellent climbers, these bears will climb trees to feed, rest, sun, and elude enemies. Half of their life is spent in trees and they are one of the largest arboreal mammals. The Asiatic black bear is classified as a vulnerable species, due to the loss of habitat from logging and from hunting. The bear’s gallbladder and bile are highly valued for use in traditional Asian medicines.

The Rarest Animal in South Korea

The Amur leopard is not only one of the rarest animals in South Korea – it is also the world’s rarest big cat. There are under 100 of these magnificent animals left in the entire world – with the majority in Russia after conservation efforts there have increased.

Strong and nimble-footed, Amur leopards are able to tackle prey up to 10 times their own weight (100 lbs) and carry it high in trees to keep it from other predators. Like other leopards, they can run at speeds of up to 37 mph and leap more than 19 feet horizontally and 10 feet vertically.

Adapted to living in cold, harsh forests, the coats of this leopard are paler than most subspecies – with large, dark, widely spaced rosettes with thick unbroken rings. Amur leopard fur can grow to 7 centimeters in length during the cold winter months.

The beautiful coat of the Amur leopard has led to its critically endangered status, as they have been poached heavily. Loss of habitat and scarcity of food are other factors. The leopard’s prey, roe deer, sika deer, and hare are hunted by local communities for food.

Endangered Animals in South Korea

While South Korea has made strides to protect its wildlife, many of its large carnivores have dwindled or become completely extinct from the country.

• Korean Fox – This subspecies of the red fox was once native to Korea, Russia, and northeast China. But habitat loss and poaching have caused numbers to decline precipitously from the early 20th century onward. Conservationists are now attempting to reintroduce this species into many parts of its former range.
• Amur Leopard – This endangered subspecies of the leopard is one of the rarest cats on the planet. Since the last Korean leopard was seen in 1970, many people consider it to be locally extinct. A small population of less than a hundred still survives in Russia and China.
• Ussuri Black Bear – A subspecies of the Asian black bear, this animal lives in the broadleaf forests of alpine biomes in the Koreas. Since the numbers of these bears have dwindled from habitat loss and hunting, conservationists have made efforts to reintroduce them back into parts of their former habitat.
• Red-Crowned Crane – Among the rarest cranes in the world, the red-crowned crane migrates from Siberia to Korea and China for the winter. It is considered to be a symbol of prosperity and peace, but now it’s in danger of becoming extinct.
• Siberian Musk Deer – Although still fairly common through many parts of northeastern Asia, the number of Siberian musk deer has fallen significantly in Korea from habitat loss and hunting.

South Korea’s Flag

South Korea’s flag features a white background, with a round symbol in the center. This symbol, called a Taegeuk, dates back to Chinese Taiji. It is reminiscent of the concept of yin and yang, or polarities. The red and blue colors represent land and sky, respectively. A trigram sits in each of the flag’s four corners. Trigrams come from bagua in Taoist philosophy, and they represent worldly elements working together to achieve balance.

The color white is seen as a traditional color in Korean culture, commonly used in daily clothing in the 19th century. The white background represents purity and peace.