Jeju Wangbeotnamu Introduced as Successor to Current Yeouido Wangbeotnamu... Settling Yeouido Wangbeotnamu Controversy
Jeju Wangbeotnamu Supplied from Seoul Botanic Park... Offering Korea's Native Cherry Blossoms to Residents
Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that the native Korean species, Jeju Wangbeotnamu (Jeju King Cherry Tree), will soon be visible along Yeouido’s cherry blossom road, Yeouidongseo-ro.
The Wangbeotnamu cherry trees along Yeouido’s cherry blossom road were originally transplanted from Changdeokgung Palace during its restoration, creating the current cherry blossom path.
Since the Wangbeotnamu, the star of the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival, is known as a Japanese cherry tree or a hybrid species, the district plans to introduce Jeju Wangbeotnamu, a native Korean species planted and managed at Seoul Botanic Park, as successor trees to the currently planted Wangbeotnamu.
Currently, there are a total of 1,365 Wangbeotnamu trees planted around Yeouido, many of which are aging. Although about 50 trees are replaced annually due to death or pest damage, the replacement trees have been of the same species as the currently planted Wangbeotnamu.
However, with this selection of successor trees, the district will gradually replace the Wangbeotnamu around Yeouido with Korea’s native Jeju Wangbeotnamu, allowing residents to enjoy cherry blossoms of a native Korean species in the future.
Additionally, Seoul Botanic Park has received Jeju Wangbeotnamu saplings twice from Jeju Hallasan Ecological Forest to conserve and distribute plant genetic resources of high domestic conservation value locally, and is currently managing a total of 200 trees.
Accordingly, once the Jeju Wangbeotnamu trees currently managed at the nursery reach the size suitable for street tree planting, the park plans to supply them to the district. Subsequently, the district will introduce the supplied Jeju Wangbeotnamu as successor trees to the Wangbeotnamu currently planted in Yeouido and begin replacement planting.
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “By adopting Jeju Wangbeotnamu, a native Korean species, as successor trees in Yeouido, we will continue the reputation of Seoul’s representative cherry blossom festival. Furthermore, through this opportunity, we will also contribute to raising awareness of the excellent value of Jeju Wangbeotnamu, a natural monument.”
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