지리산 반달가슴곰 복원과 생태 보전 편집하기 (부분)

===Eng===
'''Asiatic Black Bear Restoration and Ecological Conservation in Jirisan Mountain'''

Since its designation in 1967 as Korea’s first national park, Jirisan Mountain has served as a core region for biodiversity conservation. In particular, the systematic, systematic national restoration project to return the endangered and Natural Monument–designated Asiatic black bear to the wild is regarded as a landmark case in Korea’s ecological conservation policy.

The Asiatic black bear is a large mammal distinguished by the crescent-shaped white marking on its chest. It measures approximately 138–192 cm in body length and weighs between 80 and 200 kg, with an estimated lifespan of around 25 years in the wild. It primarily inhabits forested mountain regions and is omnivorous, feeding on acorns and fruits as well as honey, insects, bird eggs, and chicks. The species hibernates from early December to February or March, and females typically give birth to one or two cubs during hibernation.

Once widely distributed across the Korean Peninsula, the Asiatic black bear population declined rapidly due to large-scale hunting during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), habitat destruction, and poaching. After the last known individual was killed at Madeungnyeong Pass in Seoraksan Mountain in 1983, the species was believed to be extinct in South Korea. However, in 2000, an MBC documentary team filmed wild Asiatic black bears in Jirisan Mountain, raising the possibility of restoration. In response, the Korea National Park Service initiated a full-scale restoration project in 2004 by releasing three pairs of bear cubs from Russia into Jirisan. Since then, the population has gradually increased, with an estimated 80 individuals now inhabiting the Jirisan area. Some bears have naturally dispersed to nearby Deogyusan and Gayasan Mountains. Through long-term management and monitoring, the establishment of a self-sustaining population is regarded as a significant achievement in Korea’s wildlife restoration history.

Located within Jirisan National Park, the Jirisan Asiatic Black Bear Coexistence Center was established to research the species’ ecological characteristics and to educate visitors about ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts. At the center’s ecological learning facility, visitors can observe Asiatic black bears under the guidance of trained nature interpreters.