Distribution and Habitat Status of the Hippocampus Species in South Korean Coastal Waters

This review synthesizes information on the distribution and habitat of five seahorse species ( Hippocampus haema , Hippocampus histrix , Hippocampus kuda , Hippocampus mohnikei and H. trimaculatus ) recorded in South Korean coastal waters from scientific literature, institutional reports, media sources and validated personal observations. The compiled records reveal distinct but partially overlapping spatial patterns influenced by habitat availability, with H. haema and H. mohnikei broadly distributed across the eastern and southern coasts, whereas only H. mohnikei has been reported from the western coast of South Korea. H. histrix and H. kuda have outdated and extremely limited occurrences, suggesting possible range contraction or historical misidentification. H. trimaculatus shows consistent presence along the southern and eastern coasts but seems underreported. Temporal analyses indicate that peaks in occurrence records correspond to periods of active academic research, governmental monitoring programs and high citizen‐contributed observations, underscoring the value of public engagement in complementing formal surveys. The high habitat specificity and vulnerability of seahorses to coastal habitat degradation highlights the need for targeted field surveys, comprehensive ecological studies and species‐specific protection status reassessment. Particularly, the findings highlight the need to consider the potential designation of H. mohnikei as a protected marine species in South Korea. This synthesized baseline information provides essential scientific evidence for advancing conservation policies, improving habitat management and guiding the development of marine protected areas in South Korea.