Abstract

This study investigates the importation of ornamental and pet aquatic mollusks into South Korea from 2009 to 2024, updating the national list of alien mollusks and providing baseline data for ecological risk assessments and biosecurity strategies. A total of 240,898 individuals from 67 species, 26 families, 12 orders, and 3 classes were recorded. Gastropods were the most frequently imported, with 53 species, and major exporting countries included Indonesia, the Philippines, and the United States, with the highest number of imports from the Philippines. Frequently imported species such as Vittina waigiensis, Tectus fenestratus, and Turbo fluctuosus were mainly marine. Some species were listed in CITES Appendix II. Alien species like Pomacea canaliculata, Perna viridis, and Nassarius spp. pose ecological threats by competing with native species, disrupting food webs, and transmitting diseases. These findings provide essential data for managing invasive mollusks.