Overpopulation has given rise to many global issues, but the loss of wildlife is the worst of them all. Do you know about the Korean extinct animals? If you are also interested in learning about the extinct and endangered species in South Korea, then buckle up, as we will tell you all the habitats in the South Korean region. Let’s get started!
Korean Extinct Animals
Like other parts of the world, the population bomb is causing immense pollution and destruction of forests, aside from wildfires. In such situations, it’s almost impossible to expect wildlife to thrive naturally. Due to the continuous tension between the two (not so different) nations, many animals (ignoring homo sapiens for a moment) have lost their lives to the brutality of land mines.
Two Koreas have seen many wars, and while most people only acknowledge and sympathize with the loss of humans, the vulnerable wild animals get neglected. Let’s talk about the extinct Korean tigers that were threatened decades ago and have now been erased from the face of the earth.
The Korean Tiger
Losing the Korean tiger is by far the worst thing that has happened to Korea, considering the strong association of the Korean tiger with Korean culture.
There was once a vast population of majestic tigers who had people taking care of them in the mountainous landscape of Korea. At that time, they were considered invasive and equally feared and respected.
Korean tigers’ massive role in the starting of Korean civilization is based on the Legend of Dangun (단군). The white tiger is also greatly important in this beautiful culture as it represents wisdom. Koreans believe that a tiger’s fur turned white as it gained all the knowledge and is not a spiritual being.
Just like we use “once upon a time” before starting any story, the Koreans say, 호랑이 담배 피우던 시절, which means when the tiger smoked cigarettes. As absurd as it may sound to you, Korean paintings of Korean tigers smoke.
In 2018, the Republic of Korea hosted the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, where the mascot depicted a tiger named 수호랑 (Soohorang). This name was strategically designed from two words, 수호 (Suho) and 랑 (Rang), meaning protect and tiger.
Note. the word for tiger is 호랑이 (horangi).
Korean Endangered Species
| Alveopora Japonica | Eurasian Curlew | Long-Tailed Goral |
| Asian Dowitcher | Eurasian Otter | Malus Komarovii |
| Asian Leopard Cat | Eurasian Peregrine Falcon | Marsh Earwort |
| Basking Shark | Fairy Pitta | Marsh Grassbird |
| Bekko Tombo | Far Eastern Myotis | Nehalennia Speciosa |
| Birdlike Noctule | Gray Nurse Shark | Nordmann’s Greenshank |
| Black Finless Porpoise | Great Bustard | North Pacific Right Whale |
| Black-Blotched Stingray | Great White Shark | Northern Fur Seal |
| Black-Faced Spoonbill | Greater Spotted Eagle | Ochre-Rumped Bunting |
| Black-Footed Albatross | Hong Kong Grouper | Oriental White Stork |
| Black-Headed Ibis | Japanese Crane | Pleske’s Grasshopper-Warbler |
| Black-Spotted Pond Frog | Japanese Crested Ibis | Ringstraked Guitarfish |
| Black-Tailed Godwit | Japanese Devilray | Rufous-Backed Bunting |
| Bowmouth Guitarfish | Japanese Murrelet | Saker Falcon |
| Bronze Whaler | Kelp Grouper | Saunders’s Gull |
| Buff-Breasted Sandpiper | Knifetooth Sawfish | Scaly-Sided Merganser |
| Cape Shark | Leopard | Seoul Pond Frog |
| Chinese Egret | Lesser White-Fronted Goose | Short-Tailed Albatross |
| Dhole | Long-Billed Murrelet | Tristam’s Woodpecker |
Useful Vocabulary
| English | Korean | Romanization |
| Adaptation | 적응 | Jeog-Eung |
| Area Of Occupancy | 점유 면적 | Jeom-Yu Myeonjeog |
| Breed In Captivity | 포로에서 번식 | Polo-Eseo Beonsig |
| Carnivore | 육식 동물 | Yugsig Dongmul |
| Common Species | 일반적인 종 | Ilbanjeog-In Jong |
| Conservation | 보존 | Bojon |
| Conservation Effort | 보존 노력 | Bojon Nolyeog |
| Conserve | 보존 | Bojon |
| Critically Endangered | 멸종 위기에 처한 | Myeoljong Wigie Cheohan |
| Decline | 감소 | Gamso |
| Deforestation | 삼림 벌채 | Samlim Beolchae |
| Development | 개발 | Gaebal |
| Ecosystem | 생태계 | Saengtaegye |
| Endangered | 멸종 위기 | Myeoljong Wigi |
| Endangered Species | 멸종 위기 종 | Myeoljong Wigi Jong |
| Environmentalist | 환경운동가 | Hwangyeong-Undong-Ga |
| Extinct | 멸종된 | Myeoljongdoen |
| Extinct In The Wild | 야생에서 멸종 | Yasaeng-Eseo Myeoljong |
| Extinction | 소멸 | Somyeol |
| Food Chain | 먹이 사슬 | Meog-I Saseul |
| Global Warming | 지구 온난화 | Jigu Onnanhwa |
| Habitat | 서식지 | Seosigji |
| Herbivore | 초식 동물 | Chosig Dongmul |
| Monitor | 감시 장치 | Gamsi Jangchi |
| Near Threatened | 거의 위협 | Geoui Wihyeob |
| Omnivore | 잡식성 | Jabsigseong |
| Overfish | 남획 | Namhoeg |
| Overharvest | 과잉 수확 | Gwaing Suhwag |
| Overhunt | 과잉 사냥 | Gwaing Sanyang |
| Poach | 짓밟다 | Jisbalbda |
| Predator | 포식자 | Posigja |
| Recover | 다시 덮다 | Dasi Deopda |
| Reforestation | 재조림 | Jaejolim |
| Risk | 위험 | Wiheom |
| Species | 종 | Jong |
| Sustainability | 지속 가능성 | Jisog Ganeungseong |
| Threatened | 위협 | Wihyeob |
| Threatened Categories | 위협받는 카테고리 | Wihyeobbadneun Kategoli |
| Threatened Species | 위협받는 종 | Wihyeobbadneun Jong |
| Vulnerable | 취약한 | Chwiyaghan |
| Vulnerable Species | 취약종 | Chwiyagjong |
| Wildlife | 야생 동물 | Yasaeng Dongmul |
Common FAQ’s
What are endangered animals in Korea?
Although organizations such as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have formed a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea to serve as a biosphere reserve, there is an extensive list of endangered species of animals and birds in both countries. Some include the Siberian musk deer, the Asiatic black bear, the red-crowned crane, and the Cinereous vulture.
What animals are only in Korea?
Some animals are unique to South Korea, so you might not find them elsewhere. This includes Korean brown frogs, Korean gorillas, Korean water deer, Korean pine, Korean hare, Korean field mouse, Korean spruce, etc.
Are tigers extinct in Korea?
There was a time when the Korean peninsula was populated with majestic tigers who would explore the place and live there peacefully. Many feared them and were known to be protective of their families. You won’t be able to see the Korean tigers now as they are going through extinction. There might be some traces of them in an unexplored part of Korea, but it seems like they are gone for the most part.
Did Korea have wolves?
Korea did and still has wolves. As the population increased in Korea, their number started decreasing, but now the government and people pay due importance to their safety and existence.
Wrapping Up
Save forest populations and save the earth! Hopefully, now you can tell more about Korea’s endangered and extinct animals. With the vocabulary mentioned, you can hold a basic conversation with a native Korean speaker about animal safety. If you are looking for more options to learn Korean, then check out Ling App.
Ling App is an emerging language learning platform with fifty-plus languages to increase communication and break borders. Also, check out our blog posts about Korean drinking culture and Old K-Pop Groups to familiarize yourself more with Korean culture. With Ling App now from Google Playstore or App Store, you can improve your everyday life conversations and learn more about Korean culture.
