The Republic of Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI; President KANG Jung-keuk) holds the Special Photo Exhibition on Sea Creatures of Geomun Island in Eoulim Hall, or Harmony Hall, of the Gwacheon National Science Museum from February 22 to 27, 2011.

The exhibition, “A Record of Beautiful Sea Creatures,” has been arranged to widely publicize the 2010 outcomes of research to conserve marine biodiversity or Geomun Island, an on-going project commissioned to KORDI by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

The exhibition is intended to show the public the beauty of the sea off Geomun, which is located at the center of the south sea of the Korean peninsula where the coastal waters of the southern sea and the warm currents coming via Jeju Island meet to form a “sea of heavenly benefits and blessings,” and are rich in sea creatures.

To be displayed are a broad assortment of research outcomes, including photos of fish, marine invertebrates, and seaweeds taken by KORDI researchers, as well as enlarged images of plant plankton and seaweed samples, all expected to better the spectators’ understanding about sea ecosystems.

The sea off Geomun Island is inhabited by numerous tropical and subtropical creatures and unique Asian ones, including Callyspongia confoederata (purple vase sponge), Dendronephthya spinulosa Gray(a type of sea anemone), hydatinidae (bubble shells), and Fromia milleporella (Red Starfish).

The research found that the sea is also home to such aboriginal Korean creatures as Haliclona (Gellius) angulatus koreana (literally: Korean Cotton Ball Sponge) and Haliclona (Reniera) daepoensis Sim & Lee, as well as such rare creatures as Plumarella spinosa Kinoshita (a type of soft coral), Echinoptilum macintoshi (a type of sea pen), Solecurtus diavricatus, Hiatula boeddinghausi, and Pecten albicans albicans and such endangered species subject to protection as Charonia sauliae (Saul’s triton), which makes these waters very interesting.

“Sea creatures are partners to humanity. They produce about 75% of the oxygen of the earth and also supply food, medicines, and energy sources,” says Dr. BAE Se-jin of KORDI, who is heading up the arrangement of the exhibition, adding, “I hope the exhibition will awaken the public to the beauty and diversity of the sea creatures of Geomun Island and spark strong interest among the public in their conservation.”

The exhibition will be open from 9:30 in the morning till 5:30 in the afternoon, and admission will be free-of-charge.

For more information, please contact the KORDI PR team at 82-31-400-6072 or via kbh33@kordi.re.kr.

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