Yongneup, designated by the Cultural Property Preservation Bureau as Natural Monument No. 246 in July, 1973, represents the core of the natural preservation area in Dae-am-san and Dae-u-san Mountains. Yongneup, located about 1,280 meters above sea level and consisting of two contiguous swamps, Major Yongneup and Minor Yongneup, is the highest swampland in South Korea; it is highly valued by scholars as an ecological gemstone, for rare plants of northern species grow there spontaneously. In this light, the Ministry of Environment designated it as 'ecological preservation zone' last December 29, 1989.
Although Chilbosan-neup of Suwon, Mujechi-neup in Jeongjok-san Mountain of Ulsan and Wangdeunjae-neup of Jirisan Mountains has recently begun to
  draw scholastic attention, Yongneup, quite unrivaled in its value by these swamps, is the only elevated swampland in South Korea.
In terms of administrative jurisdiction, Dae-am-san Mountain, whose peak stands1,304 meters above sea level, straddles over Bukmyeon and Seo-hwa-myeon, Inje County, and Dongmyeon, Ganggu County, in Gangwon-do Province; it is known for its foggiest climate compared to other mountains adjacent to Armistice Line and also for the fact that winter comes there earliest. Trekking down along the gradual slope southwest from the peak of Dae-am-san, one reaches a 1,280-meter high location where there is a well-shaped swampland as vast as 7,500 m². This is the place called Yongneup. The upper ones are Minor Yongneup and the one about 40 meters below is Major Yongneup.
Yongneup, as it consists of one large and two small swamps, has a singular shape, and around these swamps grow 191 species of rare plants including sundews that prey on small insects. In addition, 224 species of insects including also inhabit the swamps, inndicating the ecological significance of the whole place. In order to prevent further damages, the off-limit period implemented since August, 1994, to prohibit access to Dae-am-san's Yongneup was extended by the Ministry of Environment for three more years until July 31, 2000. Regrettably, it is not possible to climb up Dae-am-san and see Yongneup, but this measure is considered appropriate to protect the world-class natural environment.