Cultural resources and management in the coastal regions along the Korean tidal flat

•The Korean tidal flat region is distinctive in close relationship between humans and nature.•An exclusive list of cultural entities found in the Korean tidal flat region is presented.•Diverse research methodologies including qualitative fieldwork, surveys, and collections of source materials were utilized.•The current governmental management policies in the tidal flat region were critically reviewed.•Major argument is laid on the enhancement of cultural dynamism in the areas of Korean tidal flats.

The Korean tidal flat (getbol) region is characterized by close relationships between regional inhabitants and getbol-related goods and services. To illustrate this point, we made a provisional list of cultural entities found in and around the getbol areas of the West Sea region. In the process of this inventory, we confirmed that folk culture is composed of direct representations of getbol villagers' livelihoods. This culture has increasingly become endangered and risks disappearance due to land reclamation, urbanization and industrialization. The Korean government has implemented conservation policies regarding cultural heritage in urgent need of protection, but has largely overlooked getbol folk culture. We also examined the structural relationship between designated and undesignated cultural entities in the getbol area. The core getbol culture consists of undesignated folk cultural entities. These undesignated folk cultural entities clearly have a more direct relationship with the sea and tidal flats. Designated cultural entities are more indirectly related to this environment and comprise the periphery of the getbol culture. Government entities and academics have viewed these two categories of cultural entities independently, but they are closely interrelated and interdependent. The notion of cultural landscape is far less established or reflected in getbol conservation and management policies in Korea than in those implemented in the Wadden Sea region of Europe. We further indicate the uniqueness of Korean cultural landscape developed by folk culture and warn of a direct application of the Wadden Sea's cultural landscape approach to the Korean getbol.