Control of pine wilt disease in Gangwon "a leaking dike?"... even with increased budget, spread is inevitable
Published 2025년 11월 10일
Tridge summary
(Chuncheon=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Young-seo = Despite Gangwon Province increasing the budget for pine wood nematode disease prevention projects annually, there has been a significant increase in the number of damaged trees, leading to criticism that the effectiveness is low and calls for strengthening the response system.
According to data submitted by the province to the provincial council on the 10th, the budget for pine wood nematode disease prevention projects was 1.7 billion won in 2021, 3.0 billion won in 2022, 5.5 billion won in 2023, 8.0 billion won in 2024, and 9.8 billion won in 2025, totaling 28 billion won over the past five years.
However, the number of damaged trees increased more than threefold, recording 5,969 trees in 2021, 7,792 trees in 2022, 18,880 trees in 2023, 3,746 trees in 2024, and 18,589 trees in 2025.
Regarding this, Representative Han Chang-soo (Hongcheon 1, People Power Party) said during a recent audit by the Forest Environment Bureau that "a thorough inspection is needed to see if the previous prevention projects have led to actual effects in inhibiting the spread."
One representative pointed out that "90% of the damage is concentrated on pine trees, and the damage is repeatedly occurring in some areas such as Chuncheon, Hongcheon, Wonju, and Hoengseong, making it difficult to achieve a fundamental solution with the current 'all-clearing-centered prevention' alone."
They also mentioned that securing the consent of forest owners is difficult, leading to delays or non-implementation of prevention in many areas, and that recurrence continues even after prevention, emphasizing that "an administrative and financial support system and institutional improvements to encourage forest owner participation are urgently needed."
The representative added, "In particular, for species conversion prevention, securing the consent of forest owners is key, so cooperation with local governments and the establishment of an incentive system must proceed in parallel."
According to data submitted by the province to the provincial council on the 10th, the budget for pine wood nematode disease prevention projects was 1.7 billion won in 2021, 3.0 billion won in 2022, 5.5 billion won in 2023, 8.0 billion won in 2024, and 9.8 billion won in 2025, totaling 28 billion won over the past five years.
However, the number of damaged trees increased more than threefold, recording 5,969 trees in 2021, 7,792 trees in 2022, 18,880 trees in 2023, 3,746 trees in 2024, and 18,589 trees in 2025.
Regarding this, Representative Han Chang-soo (Hongcheon 1, People Power Party) said during a recent audit by the Forest Environment Bureau that "a thorough inspection is needed to see if the previous prevention projects have led to actual effects in inhibiting the spread."
One representative pointed out that "90% of the damage is concentrated on pine trees, and the damage is repeatedly occurring in some areas such as Chuncheon, Hongcheon, Wonju, and Hoengseong, making it difficult to achieve a fundamental solution with the current 'all-clearing-centered prevention' alone."
They also mentioned that securing the consent of forest owners is difficult, leading to delays or non-implementation of prevention in many areas, and that recurrence continues even after prevention, emphasizing that "an administrative and financial support system and institutional improvements to encourage forest owner participation are urgently needed."
The representative added, "In particular, for species conversion prevention, securing the consent of forest owners is key, so cooperation with local governments and the establishment of an incentive system must proceed in parallel."
Original content
(Chuncheon=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Young-seo = Despite Gangwon Province increasing the budget for pine wood nematode disease prevention projects annually, there has been a significant increase in the number of damaged trees, leading to criticism that the effectiveness is low. Calls have been made to strengthen the response system. According to data submitted by the province to the provincial assembly on the 10th, the budget for pine wood nematode disease prevention projects was 1.7 billion won in 2021, 3 billion won in 2022, 5.5 billion won in 2023, 8 billion won in 2024, and 9.8 billion won in 2025, totaling 28 billion won over the past five years. However, the number of damaged trees increased more than threefold, recording 5,969 trees in 2021, 7,792 trees in 2022, 18,880 trees in 2023, 3,746 trees in 2024, and 18,589 trees in 2025. In this regard, Representative Han Chang-soo (Hongcheon 1, People Power Party) said in a recent audit of the Forest Environment Bureau's ...
Source: Yna
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