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🇰🇷 South Korea /Environment & Climate

Seoul residents demand action as century-old ginkgo tree shows signs of poisoning

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Residents of Buam-dong, Seoul, are demanding protection for a century-old ginkgo tree that has shown signs of distress after herbicide was allegedly injected into its base.
  • CCTV footage appears to show landscaping workers injecting a substance into the tree, which has since shed a large amount of leaves and developed yellowing foliage.
  • The gallery claims the action was taken due to concerns about the tree's roots damaging its wall, but residents are calling for legal action and the tree's treatment.

A distressing situation is unfolding in Buam-dong, Seoul, where a beloved, century-old ginkgo tree stands threatened. Residents have voiced outrage and concern after witnessing what they believe to be the deliberate poisoning of the tree, allegedly by a nearby art gallery. The tree, a long-standing landmark in the community, has shown alarming symptoms—a massive shedding of leaves and yellowing foliage—shortly after residents observed suspicious activity around its base.

The tree has been protecting this neighborhood alley for about 100 years.

— HongA resident describing the historical significance of the ginkgo tree in Buam-dong.

Eyewitness accounts and, crucially, CCTV footage, appear to show individuals, presumed to be landscaping workers, drilling holes into the tree's trunk and injecting a substance. This has led residents to suspect herbicide was used, causing the tree's rapid decline. The gallery, however, maintains its actions were a response to concerns that the tree's roots were compromising the integrity of its adjacent wall, leading to structural damage. They claim to have attempted to resolve the issue through official channels, including sending certified mail.

There are holes drilled in the tree trunk, and plastic injectors were inserted.

— Jung Hyun-kyungA resident detailing the evidence of tampering with the tree.

This incident highlights a contentious conflict between private property rights and the preservation of public, natural heritage. While the gallery asserts its right to protect its property, the community views the ginkgo tree as an invaluable part of their neighborhood's identity and history. The residents' demand for immediate protection, including legal action and the tree's treatment, underscores their deep emotional connection to the tree. The situation also brings to light the limitations of administrative intervention when it comes to disputes over trees on private or jointly owned land, especially when they are not officially designated as protected species. The community's planned vigil and efforts to seek expert advice demonstrate their unwavering commitment to saving the tree, emphasizing its role not just as a plant, but as a living monument and a source of joy for the neighborhood.

This land is not owned by the gallery, but they drilled holes and injected medicine without the owner's permission.

— Jung Hyun-kyungA resident highlighting the alleged unauthorized actions by the gallery.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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