Songpa District to Assist with Hazardous Tree Management on Private Property in Commercial and Residential Areas

Support for Tree Management Through Agreement with Seoul Forestry Cooperative

Songpa District in Seoul announced on July 4 that it had signed a business agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Forestry Cooperative on July 1 to establish an efficient response system for hazardous trees located near residents' living areas.

Songpa District and Seoul City Forestry Cooperative signed a business agreement on the 1st. District Mayor Seokseok Seo (right) and Cooperative President Ingyu Park. Provided by Songpa District.

Trees located in commercial and residential areas are considered private property, which limits the district's ability to directly support tree management activities such as pruning, unlike public trees along streets, in parks, or within green spaces. Despite potential hazards, residents have previously faced procedural difficulties and financial burdens, as they had to individually contact private companies for tree management services.

To address these inconveniences, the district has entered into a business agreement with the cooperative to establish a system for comprehensive management of hazardous trees on private property through a specialized institution. This system has been implemented starting this month.

Under this system, when a complaint is filed with either the district office or the cooperative, an on-site inspection is conducted within 24 hours by the cooperative, after which residents are informed of the costs. The cooperative then carries out all necessary measures for hazardous tree management and provides follow-up services in an integrated manner.

This integrated response system by a specialized institution enables more efficient management. In particular, since the forestry cooperative is exempt from value-added tax under the Restriction of Special Taxation Act, the financial burden of service costs is also reduced. However, apartment complexes with 30 or more households are excluded from this program.

Seo Seokseok, Mayor of Songpa District, stated, "Songpa is home to the largest population in Seoul and covers a wide area, making it inevitable that there are blind spots in tree management within residential zones. Based on this agreement, we will do our utmost to provide residents with a safer and greener living environment."