Busan is good

428-Year-Old Guardian Tree, the Black Pine of Jukseong-ri, Selected as the 2025 Tree of the Year

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the 428-year-old black pine located in Jukseong-ri, Gijang-gun, has been selected as the 2025 Tree of the Year by the Korea Forest Service.

This campaign is aimed at raising national awareness about the value of guardian trees and ancient trees across the country and utilizing them as regional tourism resources.

The Jukseong-ri black pine, long revered by locals as a protector of peace and safety, was selected after a rigorous process that included document screening, public online voting, and on-site evaluation by a panel of experts. Among the 46 guardian trees submitted by 11 cities and provinces, it emerged as one of the final honorees.

Final selections in the guardian tree category include:

• ●Black pine of Gijang, Busan

• ●Pine tree of Yeongwol, Gangwon

• ●Weeping willow of Seo-gu, Gwangju

• ●Zelkova tree of Songpa, Seoul

• ●Wild pear tree of Inje, Gangwon

Final selections in the ancient tree category include:

• ●Pagoda tree of Sancheong, Gyeongnam

• ●Pine tree of Jeongseon, Gangwon

• ●Fringe tree of Gochang, Jeonbuk

• ●Weeping willow of Boeun, Chungbuk

• ●Crape myrtle of Jindo, Jeonnam

Guardian Trees
Trees of historical, academic, or ecological value—typically old, large, or rare—that require special protection under Article 13 of the Forest Protection Act.

Ancient Trees (Quasi-guardian trees)
Trees not officially designated as guardian trees but still protected by the City of Busan under its own ordinance for their cultural or environmental significance.

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The black pine of Jukseong-ri is especially notable for being part of a cultural complex that includes the Dangjip, a shrine recognized as a designated cultural heritage site, and the Pung-eoje, a traditional ritual that prays for a good catch and safe returns for fishermen.

The tree serves as a Dangsan Tree, or village guardian tree, and stands next to a shrine housing the village deity. Residents gather here for the Pung-eoje, a ceremonial rite to the sea gods that reflects the village’s deep-rooted traditions and beliefs.

The tree received high marks in both qualitative evaluations (ecological value, cultural significance, timeliness) and quantitative evaluations (management system, promotional efforts, and integration into local events). It also benefited from public support through national online voting, which added meaningful weight to its selection.

Evaluation Criteria

• ●Qualitative (80 points): Ecology (25), Timeliness (20), Cultural Assets (20), Management (15)

• ●Quantitative (20 points): System & Designation (10), Event Promotion (10)

• ●Bonus (10 points): Internal database (5), Online vote ranking (5/3/1 points for 1st/2nd/3rd place)

As of April 2025, Busan manages a total of 228 guardian trees across 12 species.

• ●The youngest is a 104-year-old hackberry tree in Noksan-dong, Gangseo-gu.

• ●The oldest is a 1,346-year-old zelkova tree in Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun.

Ahn Chul-soo, Director-General of the Green City Bureau, commented,

“The selection of the Jukseong-ri black pine as the Tree of the Year marks a meaningful step toward protecting and promoting Busan’s invaluable natural heritage. We will continue our efforts to raise awareness of these precious resources and ensure their preservation for generations to come.”

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[Appendix 1] Photo of the Jukseong-ri Guardian Tree

• ●Species: Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)

• ●Age: 428 years

• ●Location: 249 Jukseong-ri, Gijang-gun, Busan

• ●Significance: A symbol of peace, this tree forms a unique cultural landscape with the Dangjip (shrine) and the Pung-eoje (traditional ritual), representing a site of cultural and spiritual unity.

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[Appendix 2] 2025 Tree of the Year Final Selections

Guardian Trees (5 selected):

• ●Pine (2), Black Pine (1), Weeping Willow (2), Zelkova (1), Wild Pear (1)

Ancient Trees (5 selected):

• ●Pagoda Tree (1), Pine (1), Weeping Willow (1), Fringe Tree (1), Crape Myrtle (1)

Category	Total	Seoul	Busan	Gwangju	Gangwon	Chungbuk	Jeonbuk	Jeonnam	Gyeongnam
Guardian Trees	5	1	1	1	1	-	-	-	1
Ancient Trees	5	-	-	-	1	1	1	1	1

Unit: Number of trees