In the past, the designation of natural monuments as significant natural heritage sites has mostly centered around animals or plants. In recent years, various geomorphological and geological resources have also been designated and managed as natural monuments. By 2020, a total of 461 sites had been designated as natural monuments in the following categories: cultural and historical heritage (monuments, folklore, life, history, and religion); bioscience heritage (typicality, taxonomy, chorology, biota, genetics, rareness, and specificity); geoscience heritage (paleobios, living organisms, natural phenomena, geomorphological and geological resources, and natural caves); cultural and natural heritage (landscape and scientific characteristics, and territorial symbolism); and natural science (special biota and marine biota). There are 56 geomorphological natural monuments in Korea, including mountain, fluvial, coastal, volcanic, karst, and other unique or complex landforms. 

 

 Since the designation of Jirisan National Park as the first national park in Korea on December 29, 1967, a total of twenty-two national parks have been designated and protected. Except for Hallasan National Park, which is managed directly by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the National Park Authority (established in 1987) manages all the national parks. The total area of the national parks is 6,726 km², of which 3,973 km² are land and 2,754 km² are sea. Among the twenty-two national parks, seventeen are associated with mountains, four are coastal, and one, Gyeongju National Park, is urban. Taebaeksan is Korea’s newest national park, designated on August 22, 2016.

 

 National Ecological Landscape Conservation Areas are chosen and managed based on their geological-geomorphological value, vegetational importance, ecological recognition, or necessity for conservation. These regions possess distinct geological or topographical characteristics that are protected for research and scenic sustenance. They present significant value for conservation and scholarly research on biodiversity by maintaining the integrity of natural ecosystems. They also represent diverse ecosystems and possess exceptional natural landscapes such as rivers, mountains, and valleys. Nine areas are currently designated and protected across the country by the central government, and 24 by local governments.

 

 Wetlands are a haven for biodiversity and provide an ecological buffer zone for hydrological and atmospheric processes. Korea has been using wetland monitoring to select certain wetlands as subjects for its conservation plans. Currently, 25 protected wetlands (total area of 129 km²) have been designated by the Ministry of Environment: 12 along the seaside (1,416 km²) by the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries and seven (8.3 km²) by provinces. 

 

 National Geoparks target areas with geological and geomorphological significance to carry out conservation activities. As of 2020, Korea operates 12 National Geoparks: Jejudo, Ulleungdo ∙ Dokdo, Busan, Gangwon Peace Geopark, Cheongsong-gun, Mudeungsan, and Hantangang ∙ Imjingang. Many more candidates are waiting to be designated. The whole of Jejudo, with its diverse volcanic landforms and geological resources, is a National Geopark.