44년 만에 돌아온 ‘서울개발나물’, 이달의 멸종위기 야생생물 선정

After 44 years, the rare wetland animal known as "Seoul Development Seaweed" has reappeared. Designated as a "species endangered by extinction this month" by the government, its discovery in July provides renewed hope for conservation efforts. Last sighted in 1967 in a Seoul wetland, the species was presumed extinct. However, a recent rediscovery in coastal South Korea's Gyeongsangnam-do province reignited conservation hopes.

Classified as a critically endangered species, the plant stands between 80 and 180 centimeters tall. Featuring slender, thread-like stems and smooth leaf edges, it produces small white blooms and tiny, egg-shaped berries in late fall. Found only in parts of South Korea and regions of China and Japan, the species faces threats from habitat loss due to riverbank development and competition from invasive vegetation.

Penalties for illegally capturing or disturbing the species can include up to three years in prison or fines ranging from 300,000 to 3 million won. For further details, consult the National Resource Institute or National Ecological Center websites.