Yoon Mentions Park Chung-hee, Saying "Leadership That Envisioned the Future Makes Our Mountains Greener" (Comprehensive)

Yoon Attends Arbor Day Event in Busan for the First Time
849km 'Dongseo Trail' Completed During Term
Expansion of Urban Forests and 150 Forest Experience Centers for Children
Planting of Misonnamu Trees with Busan Nammyung Elementary Students

President Yoon Suk-yeol mentioned former President Park Chung-hee's forest greening policy on Arbor Day, April 5, stating, "The outstanding leadership of a visionary leader made our mountains green."

In his commemorative speech at the 79th Arbor Day event held at Myeongji Neighborhood Park in Gangseo-gu, Busan, President Yoon said, "Half a century ago, our land was close to barren wasteland, but one of the key figures who changed that situation was President Park Chung-hee, who enacted the 'Law on Standing Timber' on February 6, 1973." This was President Yoon's first time attending an Arbor Day commemorative event since taking office.

President Yoon also emphasized that the enactment of the timber-related law by former President Park allowed the separation of tree ownership from the land, enabling timber registration. He explained the 10-year plan for 'mountain conservation and greening' and the history of encouraging forest greening. He further mentioned that preparations are underway to register South Korea's forest greening records as a UNESCO Memory of the World.

He continued, "Just half a century ago, our land was close to barren wasteland, but over the past 50 years, through forest greening, the volume of trees has increased about 15 times, and the forest area relative to the total land area ranks fourth among OECD countries, making South Korea a genuine forest powerhouse." He added, "It is our responsibility to properly manage and continue the green forests created by our predecessors' land and efforts. We will open a new future for forests by managing them sustainably while allowing the public to enjoy them comfortably."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is planting a myrtle sapling at the 79th Arbor Day commemorative event held on the 5th at Myeongji Neighborhood Park in Gangseo-gu, Busan.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the future vision for forest policy, he promised, "We will complete the 849 km long 'East-West Trail' connecting the east and west of the country within my term, so that citizens can enjoy it like Spain's Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route." He also pledged, "We will greatly expand the creation of 'urban forests' so that people can enjoy the energy of forests even in cities, and invest an additional 120 billion won during my term to establish 150 more 'infant forest experience centers' nationwide."

There is also a plan to significantly expand forest disaster support to prevent our forests from being destroyed by disasters. President Yoon explained, "By integrating digital technology, we will build a scientific wildfire prediction and prevention system, and expand forest roads necessary for wildfire suppression by more than 500 km annually to minimize wildfire damage." He added that regulations related to mountain areas will be eased, focusing on harmonious mountain conservation and utilization, including preparing a revision of the National Forest Act within this year to install tourist trains and campgrounds in national forests, allowing the public to enjoy and use the forests while preserving them.

After the commemorative ceremony, President Yoon planted a Korean native plant, the Misennamu (Daphne odora), together with fifth-grade students from Nammyung Elementary School at the Myeongji Infant Forest Experience Center in Busan. Addressing the children, President Yoon said, "You are like trees to the nation. We adults will work hard to help you grow well." He likened the children to trees, saying, "Just as trees are watered, pruned, and fertilized, adults will strive to help you grow well like the Misennamu." He also urged, "Above all, I hope you grow up brightly."

The commemorative event was attended by students from Busan Dongnae Horticulture High School, designated this year as a forestry-specialized high school, as well as student and youth foresters, female and veteran foresters, representatives from forest cooperatives, forestry companies, and non-profit organizations registered with the Korea Forest Service. Also present were Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Nam Sung-hyun, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service; local government officials including Park Hyung-joon, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City; Kim Hyung-chan, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Busan; Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office at the Presidential Office; and Park Chun-seop, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, among a total of about 1,200 attendees.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with children who participated in tree planting at the 79th Arbor Day event held on the 5th at Myeongji Neighborhood Park in Gangseo-gu, Busan, Arbor Day. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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