Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Pine disease found near protected trees in South Korea's Songnisan National Park
Authorities found a pine infected with pine wilt disease near Samga Reservoir in Songnisan National Park, South Korea.
The infected tree is about three kilometres from Jeongipumsong, a protected pine, and about 2.5 kilometres from another protected pine called Seowon-ri Pine.
Officials say the trees are not in immediate danger, but the disease could spread to them.
Pine wilt is carried by pine sawyer beetles, so specialists plan to inject preventive treatment into the protected trees and apply insecticide to keep the beetles away.
Officials will cut down 65 nearby pines and inject preventive treatment into all pines within 1.3 hectares of the infected tree.
The cut trees will be treated with chemicals, chipped and burned under disease-control rules.
The measures aim to stop the disease from spreading through Songnisan's pine forest, and authorities plan to strengthen monitoring of the trees' health.
A pine infected with pine wilt disease was found near Samga Reservoir in Songnisan National Park, South Korea.
The tree is about 3 kilometres from Jeongipumsong, a protected tree, and about 2.5 kilometres from the protected Seowon-ri pine.
Authorities plan to cut down the infected tree and 65 nearby pines and vaccinate all pines within 1.3 hectares.
Preventive treatment and insecticide work are also planned to protect the two protected trees from the disease and its carrier beetle.
Officials said there is no immediate danger to the protected trees, but the disease could spread.
- Who
- Local authorities and tree-care specialists are responding to the infected pine and protecting nearby designated trees.
- What
- Pine wilt disease was found in one pine, prompting plans for tree removal, vaccination and other preventive measures.
- When
- The infected tree was found recently; officials met on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Near Samga Reservoir in Songnisan National Park, Boeun, South Korea.
- Why
- To limit the spread of pine wilt disease and protect nearby culturally significant trees.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Relevant authorities met near Samga Reservoir to discuss disease-control measures.
Yonhap reported that an infected pine had recently been found near Samga Reservoir.
- Infected trees found
- 1 pine
- Distance to Jeongipumsong
- About 3 kilometres
- Distance to Seowon-ri pine
- About 2.5 kilometres
- Trees slated for removal
- 65 nearby pines, as well as the infected tree
- Vaccination area
- All pines within 1.3 hectares
1 source
What people are saying
As an infected tree has been found nearby, we will hurry to carry out emergency control work and strengthen monitoring to check the trees’ health.
We will do everything we can to prevent the disease from spreading to Songnisan’s mature pine forests.