Confirmed Colony of Endangered Wild Plant 'Seokgok' in Seonunsan Provincial Park

Published 10 Sep.2021 11:12(KST)

Jeonbuk Province Confirmed as the Largest Inland Colony on the Korean Peninsula

Confirmed Colony of Endangered Wild Plant 'Seokgok' in Seonunsan Provincial Park

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] It has been confirmed that Seokgok, an endangered wild plant with high ecological value, has the largest inland colony in Seonunsan Provincial Park, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do.

Jeollabuk-do announced on the 10th that this was confirmed as a result of signing and promoting the "Jeollabuk-do Provincial Park Natural Resources Survey" agreement with the National Park Research Institute of the Korea National Park Service in March.

The Seokgok confirmed this time was found in the rocky area within Seonunsan Provincial Park in Gochang-gun, and it was found to be forming a large colony and growing stably.

Seokgok is an evergreen perennial herb of the orchid family, growing attached to rocks or trees in sunny areas within forests located at altitudes of 200 to 600 meters, classified as Endangered Wild Species Level II, and is a valuable resource.

In Korea, it is known to be distributed in Jeju Island and islands along the southern coast (Heuksando, Gageodo, Geoje-do, etc.), and recent surveys have recorded its presence in some areas of Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeollabuk-do.

In particular, the Seokgok habitat in Seonunsan Provincial Park, despite being an inland area, is adjacent to the west coast and has well-developed rocky areas, providing optimal conditions for its habitat. Jeollabuk-do explained that it has very important value as the northern limit of the domestic inland distribution from a phytogeographical perspective.

Most Seokgok habitats have been damaged and populations decreased due to indiscriminate harvesting for medicinal and ornamental purposes, but the colony in Seonunsan Provincial Park was found to be in very good conservation status.