"Sakura Not Included, Cherry Blossoms... Foreign Media Focuses on 'Wangbeot Project'"

The New York Times (NYT) recently focused on the nationwide distribution campaign of the Jeju native ‘Wangbeotnamu’ (King Cherry Tree) that has gained momentum.

Earlier, the Northeast Asian Biodiversity Research Institute officially launched the ‘Wangbeot Project 2050’ at the inaugural general meeting held on the 18th at Shingu University Botanical Garden. The ‘Wangbeot Project 2050’ is a campaign to replace the Japanese native species ‘Somei Yoshino’ cherry trees, which make up most of the street trees nationwide by 2050, with Wangbeotnamu, which naturally grows in only about 200 trees in Jeju Island, Haenam, and other areas. Led by ecologist Shin Junhwan, former director of the National Arboretum, about 100 participants including horticulture experts, foresters, and journalists are involved.

Cherry trees are budding on Yeouiseo-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

원본보기 아이콘

Former director Shin Junhwan said, “We will investigate the species of cherry trees in famous cherry blossom spots such as Jinhae, Gyeongju, Gurye, and Gunsan, as well as those at the National Assembly, the National Cemetery, royal tombs, and historic sites, and announce the results,” adding, “Based on the results, we will focus on cultivating and distributing Wangbeotnamu saplings.”

On the 29th (local time), the NYT introduced the project, describing it as “a complex issue intertwined with a century-long nationalist propaganda campaign and the genetic evolution of plants regarding the origin of Korean cherry trees.”

The NYT explained that cherry blossoms in Japan became nationalized after the 17th century and became a symbol of national identity. It also added experts’ analyses stating that during the Japanese colonial period, Japan planted Somei Yoshino cherry trees in colonial Korea to instill cultural sophistication.

The NYT explained that Koreans, opposing this Japanese policy, once cut down many cherry trees after liberation, but after diplomatic relations were established between Korea and Japan in the 1960s, Somei Yoshino cherry trees spread nationwide. The NYT noted, “The Korean native Wangbeotnamu can be distinguished from Japanese cherry trees by the absence of hair on the buds.”

In 2018, a research team from the Korea Forest Service’s National Arboretum, Myongji University, and Gachon University revealed through genome analysis that Jeju Wangbeotnamu and Japanese Wangbeotnamu are distinct separate species. According to the research team, Jeju Wangbeotnamu is a natural hybrid born between the Jeju native wild cherry tree (maternal) and the mountain cherry tree (paternal). In contrast, the Japanese Wangbeotnamu was artificially bred between the wild cherry tree (maternal) and the Oshima cherry tree (paternal).

Citizens visiting Seokchon Lake in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is being held, are enjoying the cherry blossoms that have just begun to bloom. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

원본보기 아이콘

However, the NYT also reported claims that nationalist assertions about cherry blossoms in both Korea and Japan have been politicized, overlooking scientific perspectives. YB Kuitert, former associate professor in the Department of Environmental Landscape Architecture at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies, argued, “Wangbeotnamu does not refer to a geographically limited species but a collection of hybrids,” adding, “It is impossible to determine the original source through genome sequencing or DNA sampling among hybrids.”

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.