Cheongsong-gun, Special Crackdown on Illegal Activities in Forests During Autumn

Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, will conduct a special crackdown on illegal activities in the forest during the autumn season, focusing on the illegal harvesting of forest products (such as matsutake mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms, pine nuts, and wild herbs) from September 15 to October 31.

As the peak harvesting season for forest products like matsutake mushrooms and medicinal herbs begins, a “specific period” has been selected to maximize the effectiveness of focused enforcement.

The county aims to avoid indiscriminate enforcement without context and plans to adopt a “guidance first, enforcement later” approach to spread awareness among village residents about illegal forest activities through continuous guidance and enforcement, ultimately aiming to eradicate illegal acts and restore social order.

Accordingly, banners will be posted at 20 major locations within the jurisdiction, including Juwangsan Mountain, targeting village residents, hikers, and tourists to prevent illegal harvesting of forest products and illegal dumping of trash in the forest. Additionally, four teams of on-site inspection and enforcement squads will be formed to conduct field guidance and crackdowns.

County Governor Yoon Kyung-hee stated, “If caught committing illegal acts in the forest, offenders may face fines or imprisonment of up to five years, or a fine of up to 50 million won. We will actively promote this information and thoroughly enforce crackdowns to eradicate illegal activities. In particular, since 84% of Cheongsong-gun is composed of forest, we ask for the active interest and cooperation of all residents.”