A significant ecological study conducted by the National Biodiversity Institute under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has found that roughly 60% of the 263 islands in South Korea are inhabited by frogs. The most commonly recorded species is the Korean green frog, which was found on 143 islands. Additionally, endangered species such as the Suwon frog (first class) and the flat-backed marsh turtle and golden frog (both second class) were also reported from 113 islands. Some frog populations on the islands exhibited genetic differences compared to their mainland counterparts, prompting researchers to investigate the distribution and characteristics of these amphibians in isolated island environments.

The analysis confirmed the presence of 12 different frog species across 156 islands, including the valley mountain frog and the golden frog. Notably, 32 of these islands were newly identified as frog habitats, previously unreported in existing literature. The survey aimed to systematically address the lack of prior research on island frog populations and included a comprehensive assessment of the biodiversity of amphibians in areas such as Jeju Island and Baengnyeongdo, where temperature and environmental changes are crucial indicators for these sensitive species.

Particularly intriguing was the genetic analysis of the Korean green frog and the naked frog, which demonstrated unique genotypes in specific island regions, such as Geoje Island. This indicates that frogs residing on these islands may have developed distinct genetic traits due to geographic isolation. The study shows the ecological significance of island-dwelling frog species and highlights the need for ongoing conservation efforts, especially for the endangered species found in limited habitats.