[Report] Forest Blackened to the Soil, Rekindling the ‘Blue Dream’ of Geumgangsong Pine

Record-Breaking Wildfire Damage in Uljin: 20,923ha Burned Over Ten Days
Geumgang Pine Forest Trail Mostly Spared Except for Part of Section 1 Thanks to Fire and Forestry Authorities
Korea Tourism Organization’s ‘Cheer Up Uljin’ Travel Sales Donate to Wildfire Relief
‘Volun Tour’ Program Attracts Attention by Combining Cleanup and Travel in Affected Areas

Behind the Geumgang Pine Forest Trail signboard, trees blackened by flames are dense. Photo by Kim Heeyoon

[Gyeongbuk Uljin=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] “We stayed up all night to stop the flames from reaching the front mountain. If the fire had spread this far, not only the Geumgang Pine trees but also the Daewang Pine trees would not have survived.”

On the 7th, when the largest wildfire in history occurred, Shin Jaesoo, team leader of the Geumgang Pine Ecological Management Center under the Southern Regional Forest Service, who was guarding the entrance to Section 1 of the Geumgang Pine Forest Trail in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, sighed with relief recalling the flames that came right up to them. The Geumgang Pine forest, where firefighting and forestry authorities made every effort to hold the last line of defense, survived the fire except for part of Section 1, thanks to the efforts of personnel who stayed overnight installing motor pumps in the valley and fire trucks that broke through the narrow dirt path.

When visiting Section 1 of the Geumgang Pine Forest Trail on the 23rd, the smell of burnt wood filled the entrance. Trees that appeared green from afar showed a yellowish tint up close, and the soil was charred black. Team leader Shin explained, “The flames spread along the ground, so the tree trunks burned from the base, damaging the roots. Pines with dead growth cells like this gradually dry out, their leaves turn yellow, and eventually, the trees die.”

The deck road in Section 1 of the Geumgang Pine Forest Trail is pitted in many places due to rocks that fell from the mountain during the wildfire. Photo by Kim Heeyoon

The deck road at the beginning of the forest trail is riddled with holes as if hit by shells. A nearby resident said, “As the wildfire spread, stones heated by the fire fell and pierced the deck. If the flames had passed under the deck along the stream, it would have gone straight to the Daewang Pine Trail, which is a chilling thought.” At the end of the deck road stands the Naeseong Haengsang Bulmangbi (Gyeongbuk Cultural Property No. 310), a monument erected by peddlers who crossed the Sibiryeong Pass during the late Joseon Dynasty to remember their trade licenses.

The Geumgang Pine Forest Trail, consisting of seven sections, overlaps with the Sibiryeong Trail used by peddlers traveling between Uljin and Bonghwa during the Joseon Dynasty. The valleys, soaked with the blood and sweat of Uljin peddlers who carried fish and seaweed caught by the sea in bundles and walked for three to four days to reach Bonghwa Market, have now transformed into forest trails offering healing and rest to visitors weary of the world. The pavilion of the Bulmangbi almost burned down in this wildfire but was preserved intact, with only the trees behind it scorched, thanks to the proactive response of the Forest Service.

The entrance of Section 1, Bobusang-gil, Geumgangsonamu Forest Road, Geumgangsong-myeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk. Traces of the fire that swept through the mountain remain in various places. Photo by Kim Heeyoon

The Uljin Geumgang Pine Forest has been a resource and protected area managed by the state since the reign of King Sukjong of Joseon, restricting public access. A large stone on the right side encountered while ascending the forest trail bears an inscription warning the public not to enter. Passing beyond this ‘Hwangjangbongsan Bonggye Marker Stone’ without permission could result in a severe punishment of 100 lashes, as the Geumgang Pine (Hwangjangmok) was a valuable asset of the royal family.

Climbing a hill between the trees, the Joryeong Seonghwangsa Shrine, where peddlers prayed for their safety and successful trade, comes into view. Recently fallen snow was piled knee-high around the shrine. Team leader Shin expressed deep regret, saying, “It would have been great if this snow had fallen ten days earlier...”

The Uljin wildfire, which burned 18,463 hectares over 213 hours, was recorded as the longest wildfire since related statistics began in 1986. Uljin County estimates the forest damage from this wildfire to be 168.9 billion KRW, with tree damage alone reaching 131.815 billion KRW.

Geumgang Pine Tree Colony in Uljin, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Korea Forest Service

From December to April every year, the wildfire caution period, access to the entire Geumgang Pine Forest Trail is restricted to protect the forest, including the Geumgang Pine. Although scars from the fire remain, the forest is preparing to welcome visitors again. Along with this, a ‘Voluntour’ program that simultaneously conducts cleanup and tours of the wildfire-affected areas is attracting attention.

The Korea Tourism Organization plans to support the Uljin area, devastated by an unprecedented large-scale fire, by developing a special product called ‘Cheer Up Uljin’ and conducting voluntour activities with an SNS press corps to promote tourism and alleviate concerns about safety in the wildfire-affected areas. Additionally, a portion of the product sales will include donations for wildfire relief, which will be provided as local gift certificates to stimulate local consumption.

The Uljin Daewang Pine Tree that escaped the fire thanks to the efforts of the fire department and forestry authorities. Photo by Korea Forest Service

Local residents have shown surprise but also strong support for marketing efforts that convert increased regional awareness from the wildfire damage into attracting tourists. Kim Yongseok, who runs a restaurant in Uljin-eup, said, “Uljin has faced three disasters: Typhoon Maysak two years ago, COVID-19, and now this wildfire. But every time, the local community has come together to overcome the crisis, so I hope tourism will be another solution.” Sim Sangtae, a cultural tourism guide in Uljin, said, “Since the Geumgang Pine forest cluster escaped damage from this fire, I hope many people will experience Uljin’s unique tourist resources firsthand, including the Geumgang Pine Forest Trail and Baegam Hot Springs, which open in May, as well as the Jukbyeon Coastal Sky Rail and Wangpicheon Ecological Trail.”

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