Yoon: "Completion of 849km Long-Distance Forest Trail 'Dongseo Trail' Within Term"

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 5th, Arbor Day, that he will complete the creation of the 849 km long forest trail "Dongseo Trail," which connects the east and west of the country, within his term, allowing the public to enjoy it like Spain's Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

According to the presidential office, President Yoon announced this vision for future forest policy while attending the "79th Arbor Day Commemoration Event" held at Myeongji Neighborhood Park in Gangseo-gu, Busan, in the afternoon. This is the first time President Yoon has attended an Arbor Day commemoration event since taking office.

President Yoon first evaluated, "Only half a century ago, our land was close to barren wasteland, but through forest greening over the past 50 years, the amount 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 true forest powerhouse."

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

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Regarding the vision for future forest policy, in addition to creating the Dongseo Trail, he promised, "to greatly expand the creation of 'urban forests' so that citizens can enjoy the energy of the forest even in cities, and 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."

While preserving forests by installing tourist trains and campgrounds in national forests, regulations related to mountainous areas will also be eased, focusing on harmonious mountain conservation and utilization, including preparing a revision bill for the National Forest Act within this year to allow the public to enjoy and use the forests.

After the commemorative ceremony, President Yoon personally planted a Korean native plant, the Misun tree, with 5th-grade students from Nammyung Elementary School at the Myeongji Infant Forest Experience Center. He asked the children to "take an interest in helping the tree planted today grow well" and wished that "like the Misun tree’s flower language, which means 'all sorrow disappears,' the children grow up bright and healthy."

The 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 young 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 of the Presidential Office; and Park Chun-seop, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, totaling about 1,200 attendees.

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]

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