Donghae City Mobilizes Full Efforts to Curb Pine Wilt Spread... Launches 255ha Prevention Project

Protecting the Baekdudaegan and Coastal Forests
The City Mobilizes to Block Pine Wilt Disease at the Source
Removal of 1,800 Infected and High-Risk Trees

Donghae City in Gangwon Province announced on February 24 that it will fully implement the “2026 First Half Pine Wilt Disease Prevention Tree Injection Project” through March 20, targeting major outbreak sites and adjacent areas within the city to block the spread of pine wilt disease and preserve a healthy forest ecosystem.

Tree injection (chemical injection). Provided by Donghae-si

Since an additional 124 infected trees have been identified between May 2025 and now, Donghae City will invest a total project budget of 450 million won to carry out the preventive tree injection project across approximately 800 land parcels, covering an area of 255 hectares in Cheongok-dong, Songjeong-dong, Buksam-dong, Bukpyeong-dong, and Samhwa-dong.

In particular, the city has designated the forests in Samhwa-dong, which serve as a gateway to the Baekdudaegan mountain range, and the coastal pine forests along popular seaside walking trails as its top conservation priority. Focusing on the leading edge zones of pine wilt disease (the boundary areas of spread), the city plans to administer intensive preventive injections to break the chain of transmission at an early stage.

In addition, to carry out more thorough control measures, the city has secured an additional 500 million won in national forest disaster response funds and plans to promptly remove 1,800 pine trees that are either infected with pine wilt disease or considered at high risk of infection within the city.

Meanwhile, Donghae City will continue to conduct aerial and ground surveillance throughout the year and maintain a rapid response system to consistently curb the spread of pine wilt disease, while also pursuing intensive control efforts with the goal of restoring the area to a clean, disease-free zone.

Shim Gwangjin, head of the Greenery Division, said, “The Baekdudaegan protected area and our beautiful coastal forests are precious assets of Donghae City,” adding, “We will mobilize all available resources to protect them from pine wilt disease.” He continued, “We ask for the active interest and cooperation of our citizens.”