Hidden cold zones emerge as last refuge for Korea’s disappearing plants

A rare yellow iris (Iris koreana), a species typically native to the southern regions of Korea, photographed in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province. Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

• Published May 22, 2026 3:24 PM KST

Deep inside rocky mountain slopes across Korea, pockets of cold air are quietly keeping some of the country’s rarest plants alive, as rising temperatures squeeze fragile ecosystems and redraw the boundaries of survival.

The Korea National Arboretum said Friday that so-called “punghyeolji,” a kind of microclimate with cooler air than the surrounding environment, are becoming increasingly important as natural refuges for rare, endemic plant species threatened by climate change.

The announcement was released in conjunction with the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed Thursday.

These microclimates form naturally along rocky slopes where cold underground air escapes during the summer, creating sites significantly cooler than surrounding lowland areas.

Researchers say those isolated environments now serve as critical sanctuaries for cold-adapted and northern plant species that would otherwise struggle to survive in warmer regions.

A recent study by the arboretum identified 1,203 unique plant species across 25 major sites nationwide.

The survey documented 82 rare plant species, 61 of which are unique to the Korean Peninsula, and 212 northern native plant species.

These specialized habitats are home to roughly 30 percent of the Korean Peninsula's total plant species, according to the arboretum.

Among the plants identified were a rare peony and the endangered lady’s slipper orchid.

Researchers said some rare and endemic plants were found in only one or two locations, making them especially vulnerable to habitat destruction and environmental shifts.

Scientists increasingly view the sites as natural shelters where species threatened by global warming may survive over the long term.

But the arboretum warned that rising temperatures, tourism, development and the spread of invasive plants are gradually destabilizing these fragile ecosystems.

Shin Hyun-tak, head of the Forest Biodiversity Conservation Division at the arboretum, said Friday that preserving these sites will be critical to maintaining biodiversity.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.