Yeongdeok-gun Achieves Miracle Comeback as No. 1 Pine Mushroom Producer After Wildfire Devastation

Ranked First Nationwide for 14 Consecutive Years
Proving Its Reputation as the Leading Region for Wild Pine Mushrooms

Yeongdeok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province has once again proven itself as the leading production region for pine mushrooms in South Korea, ranking first in the nation for wild pine mushroom output according to the Forest Cooperative auction statistics, despite the record-breaking wildfire that originated in Uiseong and swept across North Gyeongsang Province.

At the end of March, a wildfire in North Gyeongsang Province damaged over 16,000 hectares of forest land in Yeongdeok-gun. It was estimated that about 40% of the main pine mushroom production areas were lost in the process, raising concerns that the region’s 13-year streak as the top pine mushroom producer in the country would suffer a major setback.

However, according to the pine mushroom auction status released by the National Forestry Cooperative Federation on October 22, Yeongdeok-gun produced 14.1 tons of pine mushrooms, accounting for 13% of the nation’s total production. This places Yeongdeok-gun at the top among the 20 cities and counties (including 12 from North Gyeongsang Province) participating in the nationwide pine mushroom auction.

From 2012 to 2024, Yeongdeok-gun has consistently held the number one position, accounting for between 15% and 30% of the nation’s pine mushroom production each year. Despite losing 40% of its pine mushroom production base to a massive wildfire, this achievement is seen as a miraculous result, demonstrating that the foundation of local forest management remains strong.

Kim Kwangyeol, the head of Yeongdeok-gun, stated, "It is true that the pine mushroom harvest has decreased compared to previous years due to the unexpected large-scale wildfire, but the current output shows that all the efforts to nurture and protect our forests in Yeongdeok-gun are still paying off. Just as our community quickly recovered from the pain of the wildfire without losing hope, we will do our utmost to systematically and effectively manage Yeongdeok’s precious forests, which yield the highest quality pine mushrooms, so that we can pass on the honor of being the largest and best production site of wild pine mushrooms to future generations."

Yeongdeok-gun Wild Pine Mushrooms.