The dragon swamp is the only high moor (swamps created in highlands such as mountains) in Korea and is registered as one of the swamps of the Ramsar convention. A legendary swamp which was believed to be the place that dragons rested before they soared up to heaven, it is praised for its unique and well-conserved ecosystem. 

The dragon swamp is assumed to be 4500 to 5000 years old and is an excellent environment to study the ancient ecosystems of the Korean peninsula. The most interesting feature is its peat deposits which sometimes reach up to 2m. Peat deposits are an accumulation of dead swamp plants, and their formation was made possible by low temperature and acidic soil that hindered microorganisms from breaking dead matter down. However, this valuable ecosystem may not be available to our future generation. The gutters that were naturally created in the swamps are draining the water out and the surrounding trees are intruding in the swamp. They are accelerating the landization (the process of becoming a land) of the swamp.

Recently the White Heath Aster, an invasive species, has become problematic. It has entered the dragon swamp and is preventing other native swamp plants from growing. The government is trying to get rid of the White Heath Aster, but it is not an easy job. As you know, invasive species are very aggressive since they do not have a natural predator. 

What is your opinion about the landization of the dragon swamp? Should we intervene even it is a natural process? Should we maintain dragon swamp as it is now for the sake of a beautiful scenery and rare peat deposit, AGAINST the will of nature? I think these are important questions we must answer as ambassadors of TUNZA eco-gneration. Please share your ideas and suggestions. 

all photos here are attributable to Chosun newspaper 

I would love to go the dragon swamp myself but access is strictly restricted so I had to borrow pictures from other sources.