World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
South Korean court suspends prison term for illegal forest clearing
A South Korean appeals court suspended a company owner's two-year prison term for illegally clearing forest land.
The case involves a construction-waste company and land in Samcheok, in the country's east.
From November 2019 to March 2023, the owner cut down 743 trees across more than 11,000 square metres without permits.
He used the cleared area to store recycled aggregate produced by his company.
The first court had cited the damage to the forest and the owner's earlier fines for land-management violations.
The appeals court reduced the sentence to four years of probation, citing serious restoration work and completion of the first stage under supervision.
The company must pay a 15 million won fine, reduced from 20 million won.
A South Korean appeals court suspended the two-year prison term of a construction-waste company head convicted of illegally clearing forest.
The court said he had made serious efforts to restore the forest and had completed the first phase of restoration work under supervision.
He had cut down 743 trees without city permission in Samcheok between November 2019 and March 2023.
The cleared forest covered about 11,000 square metres, where he stored recycled aggregate produced by his company.
The appeals court also reduced the company’s fine from 20 million won to 15 million won.
- Who
- A 63-year-old head of a construction-waste collection and transport company, identified as A, and his company.
- What
- The appeals court changed his two-year prison term to a four-year suspended sentence and reduced the company’s fine to 15 million won.
- When
- The ruling was reported on October 27, 2026. The illegal clearing took place from November 2019 to March 2023.
- Where
- Forest land in Samcheok, South Korea.
- Why
- He cleared the land without permission to make space to store recycled aggregate produced by his company.
Defendant A
Appeals court
Sentence
Defendant A
A argued that the sentence was too heavy.
Appeals court
The court suspended the prison term, citing his serious restoration efforts and completion of the first phase of work.
A was fined for violations including breaches of the Mountainous Districts Management Act.
A cut down 743 trees without city permission and stored recycled aggregate on the land.
The court sentenced A to two years in prison and fined his company 20 million won.
The appeals court suspended A’s prison term for four years and reduced the company’s fine to 15 million won.
- Trees cut
- 743
- Forest area
- About 11,000 square metres
- Location
- Samcheok, South Korea
- Prison term
- Two years, suspended for four years
- Company fine
- 15 million won
1 source
What people are saying
considering that he made serious efforts in the original and appellate trials to restore the forest, and diligently carried out restoration work under supervision, completing the first phase
The defendant’s actions damaged forests, a valuable resource, causing social loss, and restoration takes considerable time and expense, so appropriate punishment is needed to prevent such conduct.