Dive to Korea
KOEN
Marine life
Marine life · Fish

Subtropical fish

Tropical Fish · Warm-current signature

A biological group (a community of subtropical fish), not a single species — avoid fixing an exact species

A community of subtropical fish that migrates north along the Tsushima Warm Current (a branch of the Kuroshio). The ‘warm-current’ signature of diving in Korea.

Biological group · protection varies by species
01Profile

A fish community carried by the warm current

The Tsushima Warm Current and the Jeju Current — both branches of the Kuroshio — create a warm-water environment that lets subtropical fish migrate north. This is a biological-group concept, not a single species.

02Habitat & season

Jeju year-round, Ulleung · Dokdo Aug–Oct

Around Jeju they are seen year-round thanks to the warm current, while at Ulleung · Dokdo tropical fish move north on the Kuroshio warm current from August to October.

Jeju year-roundUlleung · Dokdo Aug–Oct
Warm current
North along the Tsushima Warm Current · Jeju year-round
03Where you’ll mostly see them

Where to meet subtropical fish

Verified

Munseom

Jeju · Seogwipo

Subtropical fish year-round thanks to the warm current (✅).

Verified

Jukdo

Ulleung · Dokdo

Tropical fish ride the warm current north from Aug–Oct (✅).

04Protection & caution
Not a specific protected species · biological group

This is a biological-group concept rather than a specific protected species; protection status and scientific names vary by individual species.

Needs verification · avoid definitive claims
  • ‘Subtropical fish’ is a community concept — do not assert a specific species’ protection status or scientific name.

Korea’s seas,
warm-current signature

Meet Korea’s warm-current fish.

Munseom dive siteOther marine life