Korea National Arboretum and Garden Management Agency Holds Inauguration Ceremony

The Korea National Arboretum Management Institute (Chairman Ryu Kwang-su), a public institution under the Korea Forest Service, held an inauguration ceremony on the 23rd at the National Sejong Arboretum, one of its affiliated institutions, with all employees and stakeholders attending both online and offline, to mark the change of the institution's name.

Established in 2017 as the Korea National Arboretum Management Institute, the organization opened the National Baekdudaegan Arboretum in Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do in 2018, and the National Sejong Arboretum in Sejong in 2020, striving to conserve and create value for climate vegetation and regional national forest biological resources.

Recently, in response to the post-COVID-19 era and the increasing demand for gardens and companion plants to meet green needs, the institution changed its name to the Korea National Arboretum and Garden Management Institute to realize the spread of garden culture, reflecting the call of the times.

Through this inauguration ceremony, it was announced that the institute will create beautiful gardens close to the public and promote garden culture enjoyed together with the people, while also strengthening the arboretum’s core functions of plant resource collection and conservation activities.

The inauguration ceremony was held with only a small number of executives and employees participating offline in consideration of COVID-19 prevention and social distancing guidelines, while other staff watched via a live broadcast on YouTube.

At the ceremony, Lee Gae-ho, Chairman of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, and Choi Byung-am, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, delivered congratulatory messages via video.

In the afternoon, a symposium was held on the theme of “Development Plans for the Garden Industry and the Role of the Korea National Arboretum and Garden Management Institute Following the Amendment of the Arboretum and Garden Act.”

The symposium featured presentations on the institution’s garden project plans and provided an opportunity to hear diverse opinions on the development direction of the garden sector from experts in garden policy, tourism, culture, industry, healing, and management.

Chairman Ryu Kwang-su of the Korea National Arboretum and Garden Management Institute stated, “Through plant conservation, the Korea National Arboretum and Garden Management Institute promises to contribute to the sustainability of the nation and the planet, creating a green culture where plants and people coexist in daily life, enabling everyone to enjoy a healthy and happy life.”

He also said, “With this inauguration ceremony, all employees share the recognition that our institution’s role has expanded from within the arboretum’s fences to the front yards of the people, and we will do our best to become a specialized institution for arboretum and garden services.”