Gyeongnam Province, How About Volunteering to Plant 'Hope Trees' Across the Region?

Relay from Miryang to all cities and counties until April 5th

Gyeongsangnam-do planted 'Hope Trees' in Miryang, which lost forestland equivalent to about 1,000 soccer fields due to a large wildfire last year.

According to Gyeongnam Province on the 22nd, a volunteer activation proclamation ceremony and Hope Tree planting event were held in the Geumsan-ri area of Sangdong-myeon, Miryang-si on the same day.

The event was attended by Governor Park Wan-su, Yesangwon, Provincial Assembly member Jang Byeong-guk, Kim Ju-yang, head of the Nonghyup Gyeongnam Headquarters, Jeong Hoe-sook, head of the Provincial Volunteer Center, the Provincial Women Leaders Volunteer Group, Miryang Volunteer Council, and about 200 volunteers and local residents.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, face-to-face activities decreased, and the number of volunteers nationwide dropped from 4.19 million in 2019 to 1.86 million in 2021, while in Gyeongnam it fell from 280,000 in 2019 to 110,000 in 2021, each decreasing by more than half.

The province organized a volunteer proclamation ceremony to rekindle the volunteer spirit, planting 800 cypress trees with participants to create a forest of hope.

Participants are taking a commemorative photo at the volunteer declaration ceremony and Hope Tree planting event held in Miryang, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

The Hope Tree planting event will start in Miryang and continue in a relay format across all cities and counties until Arbor Day on April 5.

The province plans to prepare various policies to revitalize volunteering based on this volunteer proclamation ceremony.

Programs utilizing Gyeongnam’s geographical and cultural resources will be developed to enable family participation in volunteering, and those who complete 10,000 volunteer hours will be awarded a certificate of recognition.

Related policies such as selecting volunteer excellence households and registering on the online Hall of Fame will also be promoted.

Governor Park said, “Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, the residents have been happy and Gyeongnam has developed beautifully,” adding, “I hope this tree planting event, which plants our health and hope, will further activate volunteering.”