Gimje to buy protected zone and adjacent farmland to shield 600-year-old zelkova
In short
Gimje city in North Jeolla Province plans to buy the protected zone around the 600-year-old Haengchon-ri zelkova, Natural Monument No. 280, along with adjacent farmland, at a cost of about 100 million won. The National Heritage Administration agreed to fund the purchase, which covers roughly 1,880 square metres. The city says the land will serve as a buffer for the tree and as a rest area for residents, ending nearly a decade of farm machinery passing through the protected zone.
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Gimje city in North Jeolla Province plans to buy the protected zone around the Haengchon-ri zelkova, Natural Monument No. 280, together with adjacent farmland, to protect the tree and ease inconvenience for local farmers. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported the plan on 5 October, and Yonhap reported the city's announcement the following morning. The land involved covers about 1,880 square metres, or roughly 570 pyeong, and the city expects to spend about 100 million won. [ 1 , 3 ]
The tree stands in Dongnyeong village, Haengchon-ri, Bongnam-myeon, and is estimated to be about 600 years old, standing 15 metres tall. It was designated a natural monument in 1982. The two outlets differ on its circumference at breast height: Kyunghyang Shinmun gives 8.5 metres, while Yonhap gives 8 metres. [ 1 , 3 ]
The problem, according to the city, is that the protected zone and the adjacent farmland have the same owner, so farmers had to drive machinery through the protected area to reach their fields. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that this raised concerns about damage to the tree's roots and growing environment, and that residents' inconvenience from machinery traffic continued for nearly 10 years. Yonhap also reported that a fire started by children playing had burned away part of the tree's branches. [ 1 , 3 ]
Gimje concluded that buying only the protected zone would not solve the machinery access problem, and proposed purchasing the adjacent farmland as well. The city explained the need to the National Heritage Administration and requested budget support; the administration recognised the need and decided to provide about 100 million won, according to both outlets. [ 1 , 3 ]
Once the purchase is complete, the city plans to use the land as a buffer for the tree's growth and as a rest space for residents, and to begin tidying and landscaping the area around the tree. A Gimje official said the city had prepared a way to address both heritage protection and residents' farming inconvenience, and would carry out the land purchase without problems, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported. A National Heritage team official told Yonhap that a valuable national heritage would be protected reliably and residents' inconvenience resolved. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The purchase is a local government move to settle a long-running conflict between heritage protection and farming access, with national funding support. If completed, it would let residents reach their fields without crossing the tree's protected zone and give the city room to manage the tree's growing environment.
Key facts
- The tree is the Haengchon-ri zelkova, Natural Monument No. 280, in Dongnyeong village, Bongnam-myeon, Gimje. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- It is estimated to be about 600 years old and stands 15 metres tall. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- It was designated a natural monument in 1982. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Gimje plans to buy the protected zone and adjacent farmland, about 1,880 square metres, for around 100 million won. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The National Heritage Administration agreed to provide budget support after the city explained the need. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Farm machinery had to pass through the protected zone to reach nearby fields, and residents' inconvenience lasted nearly 10 years, the city said. [ 1 ]
- The purchased land is to be used as a buffer for the tree and as a rest space for residents. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The tree in question is the Haengchon-ri zelkova, Natural Monument No. 280, located in Dongnyeong village, Haengchon-ri, Bongnam-myeon, Gimje. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The tree is estimated at about 600 years old and 15 metres tall, and was designated a natural monument in 1982. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Gimje plans to buy both the protected zone and adjacent farmland, an area of about 1,880 square metres, with the National Heritage Administration agreeing to fund about 100 million won of the cost. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The acquired land is to be used as a buffer for the tree's growth and as a rest area for residents, with landscaping planned. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The tree's circumference at breast height is given as 8.5 metres by Kyunghyang Shinmun and 8 metres by Yonhap. The two outlets give different measurements for the same tree.
- The date of the city's announcement is given as 5 October by Kyunghyang Shinmun and 6 October by Yonhap. The outlets differ on when the plan was made public.
- Whether the current owners of the adjacent farmland have agreed to sell has not been reported. No document states the status of negotiations with landowners.
- A fire caused by children playing that burned part of the tree's branches is reported only by Yonhap. Single-source detail with no date given.