Overview

Event Title: The 9th Conference of East Asia Research Association for Agricultural Heritage Systems(ERAHS)
Event Dates: September 17 (Wed) – September 20 (Sat), 2025※Aligned with Haenyeo Day (Sep. 20) and the Haenyeo Cultural Festival
Main Theme: Sustainable Conservation of IAHS and Restoration of Community
Venue / Location: Jeju Oriental Hotel 47, Tapdong-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Welcome Message

Distinguished members of the East Asia Agricultural Heritage Association (ERAHS), and honored participants from Korea, China, and Japan, It is my great pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the opening of the 9th Conference of ERAHS, and to warmly welcome you all to Jeju from across the East Asian region. This year’s conference is being held under the theme, “Sustainable Conservation of IAHS and Restoration of Community.” It is a meaningful opportunity to reaffirm the value of traditional agricultural and fisheries systems that have been passed down through generations, and to explore ways to preserve these heritages while revitalizing local communities. Jeju is blessed with pristine nature and a wealth of agricultural and fisheries traditions that embody the wisdom of our ancestors. In particular, Jeju is recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for both a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System — Jeju Batdam(stone-walled fields) — and a Globally Important Fisheries Heritage — Jeju Haenyeo(women divers). The agricultural and fisheries heritage of East Asia is more than a means of livelihood; it represents the preservation of biodiversity, the resilience of communities, and the essence of cultural identity. The Jeju Provincial Government is committed to passing down this rich heritage, while fostering a sustainable rural future through creative ideas that bring together people of all generations. Together with all of you, we will continue to share the value of agricultural and fisheries heritage with the world, and unite our wisdom for a sustainable future. I sincerely hope that this conference will be a resounding success and serve as a significant milestone for a new leap forward in East Asia’s agricultural and fisheries heritage. Thank you.

This message has been prepared in collaboration with generative AI as part of Jeju Province’s Digital Transformation Policy.

July 2025

Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 East Asia Research Association for Agricultural Heritage Systems (ERAHS) Conference. I sincerely thank you for joining us here today. Since its start in China in 2014, the ERAHS Conference has been held annually in rotation by China, Japan, and Korea. It has served as a meaningful platform for international cooperation, where we have come together to discuss the value of agricultural and fisheries heritage system and explore pathways for their sustainable development. Following the last conference in Hadong, Korea in 2019, the conference was unfortunately suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This 9th ERAHS Conference, being held in Korea once again after six years, carries a particularly special significance for all of us. This year also marks the final year of the initial cycle in which each of the three participating countries has hosted the conference three times. It is a significant moment to reflect on our past achievements and to envision a new phase for ERAHS, one that takes us toward deeper cooperation and greater international recognition of our shared agricultural and fisheries heritage. This year’s host, Jeju, is a truly unique place. It is the region to hold both a designated agricultural heritage system and a fisheries heritage system. With its outstanding natural environment, Jeju also embodies the living spirit of traditional knowledge and strong community values passed down over generations. The theme of this year’s conference, “Sustainable Conservation of Important Agricultural-fisheries Heritage System and Restoration of Community,” is deeply aligned with Jeju’s identity and significance. We hope this invaluable gathering will allow us to collectively consider the present and future of East Asia’s agricultural and fisheries heritage, and to shape sustainable models that harmonize local communities, ecosystems, and traditional knowledge. I hope your time in Jeju will be both enriching and memorable. Thank you.

Chairman of ERAHS Korea Won-keun Yoon