According to "Wetland Conservation Act" (enacted in Aug, 7, 1999) in Korea, a "swamp" or "wetland" refers to a damp ground that is covered with fresh or salt water permanently or temporarily. Swamps are again divided into inland and coastal ones.

Inland swamps are defined as areas such as lakes, marshes, and rivermouths. Coastal swamps refers to areas covering the boundary where water level meets the surface of the land at full tide to the one where water level meets the surface at low tide.

A swamp, according to the Ramsa Treaty, is a damp ground, bogland, or moor, whether it is natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, stagnant or flowing, and covered in salt water or fresh water. It also includes coastal areas that do not exceed a water level of 6m at low tide. In other words, it includes beaches, lakes, breeding grounds, and seashores etc.