Seoul National University Secret Forests To Open After 58 Years

JAKARTA - Seoul National University's Seoul Prize in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, which is sometimes called a "secret forest" because it was closed to the public for nearly six decades, will open in November.

First founded in 1967 for research and conservation, this arboretum covers an area of 1,554 hectares and is home to more than 1,000 plant species, including rare and endangered plants such as Cimicifuga udahurica, which only comes from some of the mountainous areas in the southernmost province.

This habitat was established on the slopes of a barren hill that was destroyed after the 1950-1953 Korean War. This was initiated by Lee Chang-bok, professor of botanical affairs who is often referred to as the father of the Korean plant taxonomy, who started planting trees with his colleagues and students.

Since then, this arboretum has been the main location for research, seed conservation, and ecological education.

Participants are limited to small forest healing programs with around 10 participants, and the government requires permission for all plant materials brought outside the arboretum.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance then transferred land ownership to Seoul National University earlier this year, paving the way for public access, quoted from The Korea Times October 3.

Unlike other arboretums designed with several exhibition lines, only two main routes are available: a 1.6-kilometer main road and a secondary lane. Only 25 hectares are designated as exhibition halls, while more than 1,400 hectares are still in the form of untouched forests.

Featured include a hybrid pine forest planted in 1959, a path filled with azalea and a sacira tree that blooms with pink and white flowers every spring, as well as a large grass page where the family can relax.

This habitat is also equipped with a greenhouse and a water plant garden where visitors can see water-liquid flowers and the original wetland species.

Salah satu daya tarik utama adalah jalang pohon jalur, tempat lebih dari 50 spesiesengah berubah warna menjadi merah cahaya di musim fall, dengan tampil musiman tahun ini bertepat dengan pembukaan arboretum.

This location is also connected to the hiking trail on Mount Gmainak and Anyang Art Park, which features more than 50 public art installations.

Thistinetum is expected to function as a bulwark of conservation as well as a new cultural and ecological destination near Seoul.

Although only a small part of its land is accessible, this unique character and forest history as the first arboretum in Korea for academic research is expected to distinguish it from more tourist-oriented locations.