Five Trees Selected from Among 13,870 Protected Trees Nationwide, Securing 20 Million Won in Green Funds
Designated as Protected Trees in 1968... Serving as a Key Urban Protected Tree and a Focal Point for the Local Community
The 'Grandmother and Grandfather Zelkova Trees' in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu (headed by Mayor Seo Kangseok), which have protected the village for over 600 years since the early Joseon Dynasty, have been selected as the final winners of the '2025 Tree of the Year' award organized by the Korea Forest Service.
The 'Tree of the Year' award selects five trees each from among the protected and old trees across the country. For 2025, a total of 10 trees from 8 species, including zelkova, pine, and pagoda trees, have been chosen. Among them, the Munjeong-dong zelkova trees have been recognized as the only 'urban-type protected trees' in the Seoul metropolitan area, standing out among more than 14,000 protected trees nationwide.
The pair of zelkova trees in Munjeong-dong, long considered spiritual guardians of the village, are also associated with a local legend of unfulfilled love between a young man and woman. In 1968, they were designated as protected trees by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and have since been managed as natural heritage, with their ecological value officially recognized. Despite the challenges of rapid urbanization, the trees have survived and now serve as a cool, comfortable resting place and community gathering spot in the heart of a residential area.
In particular, these two ancient trees have been closely linked with local traditional culture. Every year, village elders have held ancestral rituals beneath the trees, praying for peace and prosperity. In 2019, this tradition evolved into the 'Munjeong 1-dong Zelkova Tree Cultural Festival,' which has since become one of Songpa-gu's representative local festivals enjoyed by all residents.
As such, the zelkova trees in the city have long served as a focal point for the local community, providing a venue for residents to unite and address shared issues such as revitalizing nearby commercial areas.
Based on these humanistic values, the trees have earned the nickname 'Zelkova Trees of Coexistence' and have been named among the top 10 'Trees of the Year.'
The district plans to use the 20 million won in green funds awarded for being named 'Tree of the Year' to enhance the value of the protected trees and develop them as a tourism resource. In particular, efforts will focus on improving the trees' growing environment and maintaining surrounding facilities to help the trees thrive.
Seo Kangseok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, "I am delighted that the Munjeong 1-dong zelkova trees have been selected as representative protected trees of the nation," adding, "Taking this honor as an opportunity, we will do our utmost to discover and nurture a variety of unique local assets that can become a source of pride for Songpa residents."
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