"Pine Wilt Nematode-Infected Wood Not Allowed as Firewood" ... Gimhae City Conducts Special Spring Season Inspection on Pine Tree Movement

Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province, will conduct a special joint crackdown on the movement of pine species with the Korea Forest Service. (Photo by Gimhae City)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Gimhae City in Gyeongnam announced on the 5th that it will conduct intensive inspections on the movement of pine trees from the 8th to the 17th during the spring season.

In cooperation with the Korea Forest Service, Gimhae City has formed an inspection team to check 130 locations including pine tree handling businesses, landscaping companies, and households using firewood, to investigate illegal production and distribution of pine trees or the use of pine trees infected with pine wilt disease as firewood.

If violations are detected, penalties of up to one year imprisonment or fines up to 10 million KRW will be imposed according to the Special Act on the Control of Pine Wilt Disease.

Kang Seong-sik, head of the Forestry Division of Gimhae City, emphasized, "To prevent the artificial spread of pine wilt disease, citizens' special attention and active cooperation in prevention are necessary."