Pohang Bukcheon Water and Colony of Liquidambar Styraciflua and Styphnolobium Japonicum to Have Natural Monument Designated Areas Expanded

Preliminary Notice to Expand Designated Area of 'Bukcheon Water' with Historical Value
The Largest 'Balsan-ri Styphnolobium japonicum Colony' in Korea Recognized for Its Ecological and Academic Significance

The city of Pohang announced on August 8 that the Cultural Heritage Administration (headed by Heo Min) has issued a preliminary notice to expand the designated areas of the natural monuments 'Pohang Buksongri Bukcheon Water' and the 'Colony of Liquidambar styraciflua and Styphnolobium japonicum in Balsan-ri, Pohang.'

Pohang Buksongri Bukcheon Water.

Since 2023, the city has been working to expand the natural heritage areas of these two natural monuments to improve their habitats and promote their conservation and utilization. This preliminary designation notice marks a tangible achievement resulting from these ongoing efforts.

Pohang Buksongri Bukcheon Water, located in Heunghaeeup, Buksongri, Pohang-si, is a pine forest that was designated as a natural monument in 2006. The forest stretches for approximately 2.5 kilometers along the Bukcheon Stream in Buksongri, Heunghaeeup, Pohang. It is currently known as the third longest forest in South Korea and serves as a major recreational space for local residents.

In particular, the 'Comprehensive Directory of Korean Place Names' records that during the reign of King Sunjo of the Joseon Dynasty, Lee Deukgang, then magistrate of Heunghae, built embankments and mobilized local residents to create this artificial forest to prevent flood damage during the rainy season. This demonstrates the historical significance of the Bukcheon Water forest in shaping the region's feng shui and serving as a disaster prevention barrier.

The colony of Liquidambar styraciflua and Styphnolobium japonicum in Balsan-ri, Pohang, was designated as a natural monument in 1992 and is located in Balsan-ri, Donghae-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si. Situated on a coastal hillside, this colony is currently the largest known colony of Styphnolobium japonicum in terms of both area and number of individual trees. Its high ecological and academic value makes it a highly protected area.

Colony of Liquidambar styraciflua and Styphnolobium japonicum in Balsan-ri, Pohang.

If the expansion of the designated areas is officially announced, the city plans to systematically foster successor trees and implement conservation management plans, as well as improve facilities to enhance visitor convenience.

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the city of Pohang will collect opinions from local residents and related organizations for 30 days from the date of the preliminary notice. If there are no objections, the expansion of the natural heritage areas for both sites will be officially designated and announced following the final review by the Natural Heritage Committee.

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