17 February 2011: The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Secretariat) has reported that the Government of the Republic of Korea has designated Gochang and Buan Tidal Flats as a Wetland of International Importance.

The site includes two protected areas, the Buan Julpo Bay Wetland Protected Area and the Gochang Tidal Flat Wetland Protected Area. It is located in Gomso Bay and is one of the important tidal flats for migratory waterbirds along the west coast of the Republic of Korea. It provides roosting sites for globally threatened species and supports populations of shorebirds. [Ramsar Press Release]