Jeju man gets 2-year sentence upheld for stripping bark from 400 trees

A man in his 50s has had his two-year prison sentence upheld in an appellate court for stripping the bark from over 400 Japanese bay trees in Jeju and selling it. The court dismissed his appeal, maintaining the original sentence.

The defendant was accused of removing about 7 tons of bark from the trees in Seogwipo City's 표선면 성읍리 between May and June of the previous year. He allegedly did this without the consent of the landowner or permission from the relevant authorities. The operation involved four to five workers and equipment like hoes and ladders. The bark was then sold to local food processing companies, generating approximately 20 million won in profit.

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This ruling sets a strong precedent for punishing criminal acts against living beings.

Following the incident, Seogwipo City provided emergency treatment to the damaged trees by applying loess, but some have withered and died. Japanese bay trees, a species that thrives in warm climates, are common in Jeju and are often used as street trees due to their height and wide canopy.

Environmental group Jeju Nature's Friends, which first discovered the damage, issued a statement celebrating the ruling. They noted that punishments for harming non-human living beings in South Korea have often been lenient, typically resulting in suspended sentences or fines. "This ruling sets a strong precedent for punishing criminal acts against living beings," the group stated, adding that it could create a significant deterrent against ecological damage. They also urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Jeju Special Act, which would provide legal status to specific ecosystems or natural entities.

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This precedent can create a strong psychological brake on acts that damage the ecosystem.