Yangpyeong designated first special control zone for pine wilt disease in Gyeonggi Province

Yangpyeong County, a region in Gyeonggi Province, has become the first local government in the province to be designated a special control zone for pine wilt disease. This action follows the infection of 34,034 pine trees in the county, a significant portion of the provincial total.

The designation by the Korea Forest Service aims to concentrate management efforts on areas experiencing rapid spread or requiring urgent monitoring and control. While previously focused on areas with over 50,000 infected trees, the threshold was lowered this year to include areas with 30,000 or more infected trees. Yangpyeong's infection count, confirmed between June 2025 and May 2026, represents about 34% of Gyeonggi Province's total infected trees during the same period.

This new status is expected to facilitate a more rapid response system, enabling year-round pest control measures. It also simplifies the process by eliminating the need for separate collection of small branches from infected trees, thereby reducing labor and costs. Gyeonggi Province anticipates increased participation from landowners in tree replacement projects with disease-resistant species and expects enhanced national funding support.

Meanwhile, Gapyeong County, which reported 37,550 infected trees, has also applied for special control zone designation and awaits the Forest Service's review. Kim Il-gon, head of Gyeonggi Province's Forest and Greenery Division, expressed optimism that the designation will serve as an opportunity to transition to a healthy forest ecosystem resistant to pine wilt disease, pledging close cooperation with the Forest Service and Yangpyeong County to prevent further spread and restore the forest.

“

This special designation for a control zone will be an opportunity to transition to a healthy forest that is resistant to pine wilt disease, beyond simply removing infected trees.