Eco-city is a city where the environment and humans can live in harmony. People use renewable resources to live their daily lives and the environment is protected by that action. In the world, we can find cities like Freiburg in Germany, Gothenburg in Sweden, and Curitiba in Brazil. Here are representative eco-cities in Korea.

1. Suncheon City, South Jeolla-province

Suncheon City is famous for its bay area. The Suncheon Bay is registered in the Ramsar Convention as one of the most important wetlands in the world. People from all over the world come to Suncheon to see this place.  The government of this city stresses the harmony between human development and its environment.

 

(photo = http://rootahn.tistory.com/99)

 

2. Seogwipo City, Jeju Island

Seogwipo city was officially recognized as an eco-city in 2003 because of its efforts in eco-tourism. In an eco-tourism, people get to experience and learn about a city?s history and culture in an environmentally-friendly manner.  This city is getting more popular for this kind of tourism and is also trying their best to become a more eco-friendly city.

 

(photo = http://www.seogwipo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=136700)

 

3. Sangju City, North Gyeongsang Province

Sangju city is a great one for bike lovers.  Almost everyone in this city ride bikes and the road systems are well-developed enough for its citizens, bikes, and cars, which results in a harmony. The city hosts an annual bike festival in which travelers from all over the country gather here to ride their bikes at the festival.

 

(photo = http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?art_id=201609131658018)

4. Jeungdo in Sin-an-gun, South Jeolla-province

Jeungdo was recognized as the first Asian slow-city in 2007. A slow-city is a city which protects its environment and traditional culture, uses slow-food agriculture, and consumes products that can only be produced in that city. This all should be done by its citizens to develop and globalize their town.  Jeungdo was eventually named as a slow-city because of the coexistence of wetlands, salt flats, salt field and the eco-tourism of these sites.

(photo = http://benthos.snu.ac.kr/?p=12352)