Annual Economic Value of Changgyeonggung Forest Estimated at 248 Million Won

CO2 Absorption of 5.7t per 1ha Over One Year
Reduction of Air Pollutants Also Reaches 164.3kg

The annual economic value of the Changgyeonggung Forest was estimated to be over 248 million won.

The Cultural Heritage Administration's Palace and Royal Tombs Division and the Korea Forest Service's National Institute of Forest Science held an academic symposium on the 7th at Gyeongchunjeon Hall in Changgyeonggung, under the theme "Discovering the Environmental Value of Changgyeonggung Forest and Sustainable Management Strategies."

The connecting passage between Changgyeonggung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine, which was severed during the Japanese colonial period, has been reopened. On the 21st, the passage connecting Changgyeonggung and Jongmyo, viewed from Yulgok-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is about to be opened to the general public. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The most notable presentation was by Dr. Park Chanyeol of the National Institute of Forest Science, titled "Environmental Economic Evaluation of Changgyeonggung Trees." The study analyzed the 10-hectare landscaped area of Changgyeonggung Forest focusing on air pollutant reduction, carbon storage and absorption, and flood prevention.

According to the findings, the annual carbon dioxide absorption of Changgyeonggung Forest is 5.7 tons per hectare. The amount of air pollutant reduction also reached 164.3 kg, comparable to that of dense forests.

Experts from various institutions and academia emphasized the need for continuous monitoring and health check-ups of the trees, as the cold wind helps regulate urban temperatures while the forest absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide. A representative from the Palace and Royal Tombs Division stated, "We will work with the Korea Forest Service to develop management plans for palace forests to actively respond to the climate change crisis."