Vibrant Life Blooms on Landmines: A Deadly Frontier Serves as a Sanctuary for Wildlife

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea, established in 1953 after three years of war, has undergone an unexpected transformation. Initially meant as a buffer to prevent renewed conflict, it has become an ecological oasis over time.

Researchers, such as Kim Seung-ho, director of the DMZ Ecology Research Institute, have documented nearly 6,000 species in the DMZ, including some of the peninsula's rarest animals. The rugged mountains in the east of the DMZ shelter rare mammals not found elsewhere on the peninsula, while the western wetlands serve as a migration stop for cranes, symbolic in Korean culture.

Strict military restrictions have led to almost absent human activity across the 2.4-mile-wide stretch, providing a sanctuary for wildlife. Access to the DMZ for research depends on military permission and can be subject to sudden cancellation when tensions flare. The last remaining inter-Korean roads were destroyed by North Korean troops, disrupting field trips.

Despite these challenges, Kim Seung-ho and his volunteers have spent two decades building a comprehensive wildlife database on the DMZ and its surrounding Civilian Control Zone (CCZ). Their work often proves more comprehensive than official government surveys.

The paradox of the DMZ is that its biodiversity owes much to the landmines, which have become the greatest protectors of life. The DMZ's 155-mile-long stretch bristles with fences, minefields, and soldiers, but over seven decades, it has transformed into an unintended sanctuary for wildlife.

However, the DMZ's biodiversity is under threat. Large-scale development could occur with reunification or a peace treaty, posing a significant risk to the unique ecosystem. The DMZ's continued protection and preservation are crucial to maintaining its status as an ecological oasis.