Yeonggwang-gun Establishes Nation's Largest 'Mogamjunamu Tree Colony'

Published 24 Mar.2022 15:17(KST)

[Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jeonseong] Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 24th that it has created the largest colony of Melia azedarach trees in the country by planting 600 Melia azedarach trees along the Baeksu Coastal Road.

Melia azedarach, belonging to the mahogany family, blooms beautiful golden flowers with multiple branches in July.

Also known as the ‘Yeomju tree’ because its seeds are used to make prayer beads, there is a legend that seeds of Melia azedarach from China were washed ashore by seawater and germinated along the coasts of Korea, forming large and small colonies throughout the Korean coastline.

Representative Melia azedarach colonies include the Pohang Melia azedarach and Sophora koreensis colony in Gyeongbuk (26,768㎡/300 trees), the Daemun-ri Melia azedarach colony in Wando-gun, Jeonnam (21,690㎡/474 trees), and the Anmyeondo Melia azedarach colony in Taean-gun, Chungnam (9,567㎡/400 trees), all designated and protected as natural monuments.

There is also a naturally growing Melia azedarach colony along the coast of Daecho Village, Daesin-ri, Baeksu-eup, which, unlike other colonies generally distributed on gentle slopes, is located on steep rocky cliffs, giving it high geographical and academic research value.

The county planted 600 Melia azedarach trees over 33,742㎡ of forest along the Baeksu Coastal Road, linked with the existing Melia azedarach colonies, creating the largest Melia azedarach colony in Korea.

This area is 6,974㎡ larger and has about 200 more trees than the current largest colony, the Pohang Melia azedarach and Sophora koreensis colony in Gyeongbuk.

A county official said, “By creating the largest Melia azedarach colony in the country, we will provide another attraction along the Baeksu Coastal Road and do our best to revitalize the local economy.”