Korea Forest Service Designates and Manages Uljin 'Wildfire-Damaged Area' as Ecological Forest

by Jeong Ilwoong

Published 12 Aug.2025 09:45(KST)

The area damaged by the Uljin wildfire will be reborn as an ecological forest.

On August 12, the Korea Forest Service announced that it would designate and manage 47.6 hectares of forest in Deokgu-ri and Sangdang-ri, Uljin-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, as the "National Uljin Ecological Forest."

Scenic view of the designated site of National Uljin Ecological Forest. Provided by Korea Forest Service

At the National Uljin Ecological Forest, activities such as research, education, and hands-on experiences will be conducted to restore forests damaged by large-scale wildfires and recover biodiversity, while also conserving forests with high biodiversity.

Until now, ecological forests have been designated by the head of the Korea Forest Service or local government leaders for purposes such as stabilizing forest ecosystems, maintaining and enhancing forest biodiversity, research and education, as well as exploration and experiential activities. To date, there are 49 designated ecological forests nationwide: 10 in North Gyeongsang Province, 9 in South Jeolla Province, and 9 in South Gyeongsang Province, among others.

However, existing ecological forests have been managed by local governments. The National Uljin Ecological Forest is the first ecological forest to be designated and managed directly by the central government.

In connection with the designation of the National Uljin Ecological Forest, the Korea Forest Service will also proceed with the construction of the National Uljin Forest Ecology Center. The Korea Forest Service completed the master plan for this project last year, taking charge as the managing authority. Currently, the basic and detailed designs are underway, and the Korea Forest Service plans to complete construction by 2027.

Once established, the National Uljin Forest Ecology Center will play a role in conserving the forest ecosystem in the Uljin area, conducting research and monitoring on forest restoration projects focused on wildfire-damaged areas in North Gyeongsang Province, as well as providing exhibitions, hands-on experiences, and educational programs.

Park Younghwan, head of the Arboretum Construction Project Group at the Korea Forest Service, stated, "We will strive to build a system that can monitor the entire process of restoring forests damaged by wildfires and strengthen research and educational functions." He added, "Above all, we will focus on maximizing the results of forest restoration in wildfire-damaged areas by reflecting the opinions of experts from various fields and local residents as much as possible."