Although I visited the same location (Suncheonman) as the other reviewers, I have a few additional observations to share from my visit in early September 2024:

1.    Viewtower is closed for renovation: the Yongsan observatory, from where you could take the pretty sunset pictures of the salt marshes as Clyde did, has been closed for renovation since the end of last year. It is unclear for how long, but they even have the fact printed into the booklet you receive at the entrance so it will be a while. Without access to the tower, a visit is hardly worth it and I think they should at least give a discount on the entrance fee (now 10,000 Won (7 EUR) – expensive for Korean standards).

2.    Core zone fetishists will have a hard time: the inscribed area of this component only comprises coastal waters (with sediments and islands), which are underwater or all-mud depending on the tide. It’s not possible to put your foot inside. You have a view of it from the tower (when it’s open) or (like I did) you can walk the ‘World Heritage path’ which starts to the right just before the main bridge leading to the reeds boardwalk. But even from the viewpoints along that path, all you’ll see is a sea of reed.

3.    The name of the WHS is odd: even for a natural site they felt the need to add “Korean” to the English title as they do with the cultural sites to distinguish themselves from Japan and China. Also, it’s not inscribed for the Tidal Flats but for the concentrations of migratory waterbirds and mud-dwelling critters (on biodiversity criterion X only).

4.    Not many birds in September: just 3.5 months earlier I visited the Chinese Migratory Bird Sanctuaries WHS at Yancheng, a site with very similar values  – including the habitat of that little, critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper. The presence of birds was much higher at the Chinese site (due to the time of the year?). 

5.    IUCN found it very poor: the landscape is very much compromised (there are agricultural fields and apartment blocks on the horizon everywhere you look inland), what is left is small and other important areas missing. Getbol part 2, 9 additional components that should strengthen the OUV, has to be submitted in 2026 ultimately as per inscription requirements.