‘San’ Killer on the Hunt... Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, Conducts Aerial Inspection for Pine Wilt Disease Control

Accompanying Choi Byung-am, Forest Service Chief, on the 14th in Gyeongbuk, the Nation's Largest Damage Area

A forestry helicopter taking off to spray pine wilt disease control agents.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, will inspect the Andong area severely affected by pine wilt disease on the 14th.

Gyeongbuk is the largest damage area nationwide with the highest number of dead pine trees caused by pine wilt disease.

On the day, Governor Lee plans to receive a report on the pest control progress from Andong City, the most severely affected area, together with Choi Byung-am, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, and conduct an aerial inspection by helicopter.

In Gyeongbuk, as of the completion of pest control in spring last year, about 114,000 dead trees occurred, accounting for 38% of the total domestic damage.

Since April last year, the number of dead pine trees caused by pine wilt disease recorded so far is 46,000, which is about 40% compared to the previous year, but considering the additional number expected to occur by the end of March this year, it is predicted to reach about 110,000.

The damaged dead trees will be completely removed by the end of March.

Gyeongbuk Province plans to invest a total budget of 28.7 billion KRW for forest pest control this year.

Specifically, 18.3 billion KRW for forest pest control costs as a national subsidy project, 1.2 billion KRW for operating pine tree movement control posts, 90 million KRW for supporting tree diagnosis in living areas, 110 million KRW for mobile shredders, 4.2 billion KRW for operating forest pest monitoring and control teams, and 4.8 billion KRW for provincial subsidy projects operated with local government funds have been allocated.

Among these, 25.4 billion KRW, accounting for 89%, is related to pine wilt disease, reflecting the determination to prevent its spread.

Pine wilt disease was first discovered in Japan in 1905 and was first reported in Korea in 1988 at Geumjeongsan Mountain in Busan. It has now spread to 135 local governments nationwide.

The affected species include pine, Korean red pine (Gomsong), and nut pine, and once infected, 80% die within the year and completely perish by April of the following year, making it a fatal disease.

In Gyeongbuk, it first occurred in 2001 in Gumi and now affects 20 cities and counties except Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Ulleung.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo said, “Seeing the pine trees, which should be green all year round, turning yellow and dying here and there weighs heavily on my heart,” and added, “We will do our best to prevent the spread of pine wilt disease by working closely with related organizations.”

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