Hyundai Motor Company leads the nation wide restoration of Myungju butterflies (Serincinus swallowtail butterfly), a near-extinct, endangered species.

As part of the Hyundai Green Zone Project, a program of Hyundai Motor’s social commitment in the field of environmental preservation, the Hyundai plants in Ulsan, Jeonju, and Asan decided to create an ecological learning center for the Myungjoo butterflies in their respective regions for the locals to enjoy.

Inspired by the successful restoration of the species of Myungjoo butterflies in Ulsan from 2005 through 2008, Hyundai plants in Ulsan, Jeonju, and Asan decided to pull a fund of 200 million won to create ecological learning grounds where locals can learn more about the endangered butterflies. Hyundai Motor has agreed to work together withthe local nonprofit groups in forming the learninggrounds. As of late May, Hyundai has already signed an agreement with a grassroots environmental organization in Ulsan, and will sign agreements with similar organizations in Jeonju and Asan early in June as well.

In Ulsan, the unused part of the Ulsan Wild Flowers Learning Center, under the authority of the Ulsan Educational and Scientific Research Institute, will be used to build the learning ground. The grounds will also be built within the tourists’zone around Lake Shinjeong in Asan and around the Jeonju Museum of Natural Ecology in Jeonju.

The ecological learning grounds are planned to be completed by the end of August. Once completed, they will be donated to local self administrations and education boards so that they become public places where people can learn more about natural ecology. The ecological learning grounds will form natural habitats surrounded by birthworts (Aristolochiacontorta) that provide food for the Myungju larvae. Around these habitats will be formed observational channels, learning rooms, and other facilities that help you learn about the life of the Myungju butterfly. As nature-friendly ecological learning resources where you can observe the lifespan of the Myungju butterfly, from egg through larva and chrysalis to imago, these ecological learning grounds will prove to be invaluable places where children learn the importance and beauty of nature.

At the opening ceremonies to be held in August, thousands of Myungju butterflies will be released into the newly created habitats. On any given day at any of the habitats, there will be hundreds of these beautiful butterflies.

Hwang Su-il, the head of the Environmental Disaster Prevention Team at the Ulsan Plant, said: “Once this project is evaluated and judged to have potential for expansion, it will be further incorporated as part of the development plan under the Green Zone Korea Long-term Program for less developed regions. New habitats for Myungju butterflies will be formed in these regions and the potential for butterfly festivals will be considered.”

Through its Hyundai Green Zone Korea Projects, Hyundai Motor, over the years, has been supporting the restoration of such endangered or near extinct species as Myungjoo butterflies, Korean rose bitterlings, Korean mitten crabs, and white grass butterflies. Hyundai will continue to support various restoration and preservation activities for ecological resources through its Green Move programs, under the motto of ‘Recovery of Nature.’