Sejong 'Imnansu Ginkgo Tree' Designated as a Natural Monument

A panoramic photo of the 'Imnansu Ginkgo Tree,' the first nationally designated cultural property in Sejong. Provided by Sejong City

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Sejong Im Nansu Ginkgo Tree has been designated as a Natural Monument.

Sejong City announced on the 12th that the "Sejong Im Nansu Ginkgo Tree" will be designated as a nationally designated cultural property and natural monument.

The Im Nansu Ginkgo Tree is a pair of ginkgo trees planted in front of Sungmogak, the shrine of Im Nansu (1342?1407), a loyalist and military officer of the late Goryeo period, which is a local cultural heritage of Sejong City.

The male tree located to the east is 20 meters tall, with a trunk circumference at ground level of 6.9 meters, and a crown width of 20.3 meters east-west and 20.9 meters north-south. The female tree to the west is 19 meters tall, with a trunk circumference at ground level of 5.4 meters, and a crown width of 13.5 meters east-west and 14.3 meters north-south.

The male tree’s crown spreads widely in a twisting, radial shape, while the female tree grows vertically, creating a landscape that harmonizes with Sungmogak at the foot of Jeonwol Mountain, according to the city’s explanation.

The Im Nansu Ginkgo Tree holds great significance as a historical artifact, having lived together with descendants of the Buan Im clan and local villagers for many years.

The city plans to develop the area including the Im Nansu Ginkgo Tree into a historical park, linking it with the National Sejong Arboretum, Central Park, the National Assembly Sejong Office Building, and the Korean Buddhist Culture Experience Center located to the north, to utilize it as a tourist attraction in Sejong City.

Lee Hyun-gu, head of the Tourism and Cultural Heritage Division of the city, said, “The area where the Im Nansu Ginkgo Tree is located is the first nationally designated cultural property in the Administrative City,” adding, “It is especially meaningful that the designation as a national cultural property coincides with the 10th anniversary of the founding of Sejong City.”

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