Changwon Special City Holds Ceremony Commemorating the Designation of the Zelkova Tree as a Natural Monument

Establishing a Preservation and Management Plan for the Pangnamu Tree to Ensure Systematic Protection

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam held an event to commemorate the designation of the 'Pangnamu Tree in Bukburi, Changwon' as a Natural Monument.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam held a commemorative event at 2 p.m. on the 12th in Bukburi, Daesan-myeon, Uichang-gu, celebrating the designation of the ‘Changwon Bukburi Zelkova Tree’ as a Natural Monument.

This event was especially meaningful as it was a very rare case where the public and private sectors closely cooperated to minimize residents' inconvenience and proactively resolve various complaints, differing from the usual cultural heritage designation procedures.

The commemorative event was attended by key guests including Choi Eung-cheon, Commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration, and Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City. The program proceeded in order with a pre-event performance by the Changwon City Symphony Orchestra, a lecture on natural heritage, the official ceremony, a screening of a video about the Zelkova tree, and a congratulatory performance.

Notably, actor Jung Kyu-soo, who played the role of the village chief of Sodeok-dong in the drama ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo,’ was appointed as the honorary village chief of Bukburi and received a certificate of appointment. He also performed a special handshake with Yoon Jong-han, the village chief of Dongbu Village in Bukburi. Mayor Hong Nam-pyo received a certificate designating the management organization for the nationally designated cultural property. The village chief of Dongbu Village in Bukburi was awarded a certificate of appointment as the guardian of the Dangsan Tree Grandfather.

At the venue, webtoons produced in collaboration with the drama production company and photographs of Dongbu Village residents were also exhibited.

Mayor Hong said, “This designation as a Natural Monument is the first case achieved through the joint efforts of the Cultural Heritage Administration, Changwon Special City, and all citizens. Moving forward, we will establish preservation, management, and utilization plans such as improving the growth environment of the Zelkova tree and organizing the viewing environment to systematically protect and manage the Bukburi Zelkova tree. We will do our best to preserve and pass on this tree as a representative cultural heritage of Changwon City so that all citizens can enjoy it.”

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