Marine life
Marine Life
21 marine species you can meet in Korean waters — from Jeju's soft coral to Dokdo's endangered coral and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin. Where to spot them and which are protected.
21 species
Protected
Soft Coral
Soft Coral
Natural Monument / Protected Marine Species
JejuSouth Sea
Hard Coral
Hard Coral
Some species protected (needs verification)
Jeju
Protected
Bamsuji Soft Coral
Bamsuji Soft Coral
Endangered Wildlife Class II
Jeju
Protected
Black Coral
Black Coral
Protected Marine Species (corals)
Ulleung / Dokdo
Sea Fan
Sea Fan
Species ID uncertain (needs verification)
Ulleung / Dokdo
Protected
Endangered Coral
Endangered Coral
Endangered / Natural Monument No. 336
Dokdo
Amberjack
Amberjack
Protection status unverified
East SeaUlleung / Dokdo
Asian Sheepshead Wrasse
Asian Sheepshead Wrasse
Protection status unverified
Ulleung / Dokdo
Damselfish
Damselfish
Protection status unverified
Jeju
Rockfish
Rockfish
Protection status unverified
Ulleung / Dokdo
Protected
Seahorse
Seahorse
Protected Marine Species / CITES II
South SeaWest Sea
Tropical Fish
Tropical Fish
Warm-current migratory species
JejuSouth Sea
Frilled Anemone
Frilled Anemone
East Sea winter signature
East Sea
Nudibranch
Nudibranch
Popular macro-photography species
East Sea
Octopus
Octopus
Harvesting banned by local fishery cooperatives
East SeaSouth Sea
Caution
Jellyfish
Jellyfish
Safety caution (hazardous species)
All coasts
Protected
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Protected Marine Species / CITES II
Jeju
Protected
Finless Porpoise
Finless Porpoise
Protected Marine Species / IUCN VU
West SeaSouth Sea
Protected
Spotted Seal
Spotted Seal
Natural Monument / Endangered Class I
West Sea
Protected
Sea Turtle
Sea Turtle
Protected Marine Species / CITES I
JejuSouth Sea
Seaweed & Kelp
Seaweed & Kelp
Habitat base for cold-water species
East SeaUlleung / Dokdo