The Korea Forest Service Begins Emergency Restoration of Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest Following Heavy Snow Damage

The Korea Forest Service has begun emergency restoration of the Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest damaged by heavy snowfall.

On the 22nd, the Korea Forest Service announced that it will conduct a detailed survey of the heavy snow damage to the Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest and proceed with emergency restoration to prevent additional damage.

Emergency restoration is underway for heavy snow damage in the Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest. Photo by Korea Forest Service

The Geumgang pine trees growing in the Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest are highly valued for their excellent wood quality, to the extent that they were used in building palaces. The forest is also home to rare and endemic plants such as Kkorijin-dalrae and Three-leaf Cimicifuga, and is designated and managed as a Forest Genetic Resource Protection Area (3,705 hectares).

The heavy snow damage occurred due to consecutive snowfalls last month. At that time, the village of Sogwang-ri adjacent to the Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest was isolated for two days due to the heavy snow, and fallen trees along the roadside caused power outages and communication disruptions for four days.

From the 21st of last month when the damage occurred, the Korea Forest Service, along with Uljin County and Korea Electric Power Corporation, deployed equipment and personnel to initially manage the site damage for a week. During this period, a total of 262 damaged trees (fallen) were discovered on site.

Starting this month, the Korea Forest Service plans to conduct an additional detailed survey and proceed with emergency restoration by identifying and clearing damaged trees that could cause secondary damage.

Kim Yong-gwan, Director of Forest Protection at the Korea Forest Service, said, “We will promptly restore the Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest damaged by the heavy snow to ensure the safety of residents and take thorough measures to prevent secondary damage.”