Dive to Korea
KOEN
Marine life
Marine life · Seaweed

Seaweed & Kelp

Seaweed & Kelp · Forests of the sea

Large brown algae such as Ecklonia and Eisenia — species identification and scientific names not recorded (no definitive claim)

Large brown algae that attach to rock and form colonies (forests). They provide habitat and shelter for cold-water fish and invertebrates, with kelp beds on the East Sea and Ulleung rocky reefs being representative.

No legal protection basis confirmed for seaweed
01Profile

A forest of the sea spread across the rocks

Seaweeds such as large brown algae that attach to rock and form colonies (forests). Kelps like Ecklonia and Eisenia are representative, providing habitat and shelter for a variety of fish and invertebrates. Species scientific names and identifications are not in the notes, so only common-name labels are used.

02Habitat

Kelp beds on East Sea and Ulleung rocky reefs

Kelp beds develop on the rocky reefs of Ayajin and Wangdolcho in the East Sea and at Jukdo off Ulleung Island (site 2, half-cave / kelp field). They form underwater forests that serve as habitat and shelter for cold-water life.

East Sea rocky reefUlleung Jukdo
Forest
Rocky-reef kelp beds · Ecklonia & Eisenia
03Where you'll see it

Where to meet seaweed & kelp

Verified

Ayajin

East Sea · Goseong

Seaweed (✅, Goseong-gun official).

Verified

Wangdolcho

East Sea · Uljin

Diverse seaweeds, mixed cold and warm currents (✅).

Verified

Jukdo

Ulleung / Dokdo

Ecklonia kelp beds (✅, half-cave / kelp field).

04Protection
No legal protection basis confirmed for seaweed

No legal protection basis has been confirmed for seaweed itself. For reference, 7 species of seagrass such as eelgrass are separately protected, but they belong to a different taxonomic group.

Needs verification · no definitive claim
  • Scientific names and precise species identification of 'Ecklonia / Eisenia' are not recorded — no species-level definitive claim.

Korea's underwater forests,
meet them in person

Meet Korea's underwater forests.

Jukdo dive siteOther marine life