Wando-gun Confirmed as Host for National Warm-Temperate Forest Arboretum

187.2 Billion KRW National Budget Invested to Develop Northeast Asia as a Forest and Marine Healing Hub

Wando Arboretum Panorama (Photo by Wando-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Shin Woo-cheol) announced on the 28th that Wando Arboretum has been finally selected as the site for the National Subtropical Arboretum.

Last October, Wando Arboretum was judged as "eligible" as the site for the National Subtropical Arboretum by an evaluation team composed of experts on arboretum establishment and operation organized by the Korea Forest Service.

Subsequently, based on the results of the "Feasibility Study and Basic Planning for the National Subtropical Arboretum" conducted by the Korea Forest Service this year, Wando Arboretum scored a total of 94 points, with an expected 350,000 visitors and a B/C ratio of 0.84, leading to its final selection as the National Subtropical Arboretum on the 24th.

The establishment of the National Subtropical Arboretum will be promoted over five years with a total national budget investment of 187.2 billion KRW, based on this year's basic plan, followed by basic and detailed design phases.

On the 400-hectare site of Wando Arboretum, five specialized zones will be developed: exhibition and viewing zone, service and education zone, conservation and restoration zone, research and support zone, and back support facilities. Plans include a visitor center, year-round exhibition greenhouse, climate research facilities (phytotron), research building, education and service building, themed exhibition garden, and a monorail.

Once established as the National Subtropical Arboretum, it is expected to attract approximately 350,000 tourists annually, generating an economic effect of about 1.2 trillion KRW and creating around 17,000 jobs.

Additionally, together with the marine healing industry, which Wando-gun is actively promoting, it is expected to become a healing hub encompassing both forest and sea, laying the foundation for a century-long sustainable business driving the local economy.

Meanwhile, the National Subtropical Arboretum is a large-scale national project promoted under the Korea Forest Service's 4th Arboretum Promotion Plan, aimed at preserving and utilizing subtropical and tropical forest biological resources in response to global warming through research on climate change and flora changes.

Wando-gun accounts for 35% (3,456 hectares) of the nation's subtropical forest area, holding the largest subtropical forest area among local governments.

In particular, Wando Arboretum, the selected site, is home to about 770 species of subtropical forest plants such as red bayberry, Japanese chinquapin, lacquer tree, and camellia, and is recognized for well-preserving the original subtropical forest ecosystem.

Governor Shin Woo-cheol said, "I deeply thank the many people who have supported us, including 110,000 Wando residents and expatriates who participated in the signature campaign to attract the National Subtropical Arboretum to Wando," and added, "We will make Wando Arboretum a representative arboretum of Northeast Asia."

He also stated, "We will promptly carry out administrative procedures such as the preliminary feasibility study so that the value of Wando Arboretum can be enjoyed by all citizens and do our best to accelerate the establishment of the National Subtropical Arboretum."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.