Over time, Korea has experienced various changes in its patterns of land use. Urban construction took root in basins and along major rivers, and cities gradually expanded with population growth. Roads and railways were constructed to connect cities, leading to the further development of new metropolitan centers in surrounding areas. Farmlands for crop production and pastures for livestock also increased throughout the years. Hills were cultivated for upland farming fields, many of which have been converted into rice paddies through modern irrigation methods. In recent years, however, there have been instances where rice paddies have been converted into upland farming fields in order to grow more lucrative products such as ginseng, fruits, and highland vegetables. In coastal regions, new land has been created by reclaiming land from the sea.

 

 Although land use has shifted to fit our demands throughout time, such changes have the potential to cause serious environmental problems. The expansion of urban and agricultural areas inevitably led to the decrease of forest areas, which in turn triggered an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and the risk of natural hazards. Forest fragmentation resulting from the construction of residential areas, roads, and railways threatens plants and animals living in the forest ecosystem. Environmental problems such as odor and leachate arise due to waste landfills in metropolitan areas. Coastal land reclamation has caused a decrease in tidal flats, leading to biodiversity loss and an increased danger of nearshore disasters.

 

 Korea has been making various efforts to minimize environ-mental problems and achieve sustainable land use. Land cover and land use maps have been developed to understand the status of the earth’s surface and analyze the best land use practices. Along coastal shorelines, surveys are in progress to assess and monitor the restoration of marine organism habitats that have been destroyed by public water reclamation. Waste landfill areas that are located near big cities are being developed into parks in order to minimize odor and leachate. Furthermore, Korea aims to prevent inappropriate development practices with the launch of the National Environmental Zoning Map and encourage eco-friendly land use by sharing regulatory information with the public.

 

 South Korea and North Korea display a large difference in land use and land cover patterns. South Korea has an area of approximately 100,000 ㎢, while the area of North Korea is about 120,000 ㎢. According to a land cover map from the late 2000s (2008 – 2010) produced by the Ministry of Environment, the total size of all urban and developed areas of South Korea is approximately twice that of North Korea. According to the World Bank, as of 2016, the cultivated land area in South and North Korea accounted for 14.5% and 19.5% of the total land area, respectively. The ratio of permanent arable land in total land area is 2.3% in South Korea and 1.9% in North Korea. In South Korea, forested areas occupy 63.4% of the total land area, and in North Korea, they account for 40.7%. High mountain areas are mostly located in the eastern and northern regions, while low elevations and gentle slopes primarily appear in the western region. Due to these topographical features, agricultural areas are mainly distributed in western regions, and forest areas are located towards eastern regions.