National Heritage Cheong Appoints Four 'Dangsan Tree Grandfathers' in Suncheon

Establishing a System for the Conservation, Management, and Utilization of Natural Heritage

Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Noh Kwan-gyu) announced on the 9th that four "Dangsan Tree Grandfathers" were appointed by the Cultural Heritage Administration on the 5th of last month.

The Dangsan Tree Grandfather system is a program by the Cultural Heritage Administration that grants honorary activity qualifications to village residents to establish a system for the preservation, management, and utilization of natural heritage.

Cheonjaam Beopung, the head monk of Cheonjaam, who practically manages the Ssanghyangsu (Natural Monument) at Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon. Provided by Suncheon City

This system, which started in 2022, aims to revitalize local communities through natural heritage, expand the role of local social hubs, and promote heritage management with direct resident participation. By 2023, 44 people had been appointed, and this year, among a total of 14 nationwide, four Dangsan Tree Grandfathers were appointed in Suncheon City.

The Dangsan Tree Grandfathers appointed this year are ▲ Lee Kyung-woo, village chief of Pyeongji Village in Suncheon, who conducts regular monitoring of the Ippang Tree (Natural Monument) in Pyeongjung-ri ▲ Ven. Beop-ung, head monk of Cheonjaam Temple, who practically manages the Twin Fragrant Trees (Natural Monument) at Cheonjaam, Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon ▲ Yoo Soo-yeol, village chief of Nongsom Village, who leads generational succession of the Ippang Tree (Jeollanam-do Monument) in Pyeongchon-ri ▲ Choi Kwan-ho, village chief of Gyochon-ri, Nagan, who works on the preservation and management of the Ginkgo Tree (Jeollanam-do Monument).

They will continuously inspect the condition of natural heritage in their respective areas and participate in folk events related to natural heritage in the future.

A city official said, “We express our gratitude to those appointed this time, and we will actively support the Dangsan Tree Grandfather system for the precious natural heritage of Suncheon City and strive to ensure systematic preservation and management.”