"Good Omen"... What Happened to the 500-Year-Old Persimmon Tree at the Birthplace of Chaebols like Samsung and LG

Gyeongnam Uiryeong Natural Monument Persimmon Tree Bears Fruit After 3 Years
Birthplace of Chaebol Families, Legend of Unending Wealth

In March 2008, a 500-year-old persimmon tree in Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam, was designated as the first national natural monument (No. 492) among domestic persimmon trees. After three years, the tree bore fruit again.

Persimmons have ripened on a 500-year-old persimmon tree in Baekgok-ri, Jeonggok-myeon, Uiryeong.
[Photo by Uiryeong-gun]

On the 16th, Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam, reported that 50 persimmons had grown on the persimmon tree in Baekgok-ri, Jeonggok-myeon. This is after four persimmons appeared on the tree in 2020, which was the first time in 10 years, and now, after three years, as many as 50 persimmons have grown again.

This persimmon tree is 28 meters tall, with a circumference of 4 meters at chest height, and is 500 years old, making it the oldest persimmon tree in Korea.

Generally, persimmon trees are known to live about 200 to 250 years. However, the Baekgok-ri persimmon tree has lived twice as long as an average persimmon tree.

Because of this, the villagers regard this persimmon tree as a sacred tree and have used it as a Dangsan tree to pray for the village’s well-being and a bountiful harvest.

Additionally, the Baekgok-ri persimmon tree was designated as a natural monument in 2008 due to its high folkloric and biological value.

Uiryeong-gun stated, "Upon hearing the news that the persimmons have grown, the villagers believe that good things will happen in Uiryeong this year." Some interpret this as the persimmon tree foreseeing the success of the Uiryeong Rich Rich Festival, which ended on the 9th and attracted 170,000 tourists.

A county official said, "It seems that the fruiting is due to improved soil and nutrient supply enhancing the tree’s reproductive ability," but added, "It is amazing for a 500-year-old tree to bear fruit."

Meanwhile, the Namgang River flows through the gateway of Uiryeong, where there is a rock resembling a cauldron. A legend says that wealth never ceases around this Cauldron Rock.

In fact, it is said that the founders of Samsung Group, LG Group, and Hyosung Group were born within an 8 km radius of Cauldron Rock. Also, Uiryeong is famous as a place where many wealthy people have been born and raised, including Lee Jong-hwan, the founder of Samyoung Chemical and known as the king of donations, whose birthplace is located there.

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