A suspected case of pine wilt disease has been discovered for the first time in Sobaeksan National Park.
According to the Boeun County government, a pine tree with brown leaves that had died was found near the Samga Reservoir in Sobaeksan. Initial tests conducted by the National Institute of Forest Science returned a positive result, and a second confirmatory test is currently underway.
As reported by Yonhap News, the Chungbuk Province and Boeun County plan to hold a pest control strategy meeting on-site with relevant agencies, including the National Institute of Forest Science, the National Forest Management Office, and the Korea National Park Service, on the morning of the 15th. Authorities have restricted access to the area where the infected tree was found and prohibited the removal of pine trees from the site.
A Boeun County official stated, "After the on-site meeting, we will establish pest control measures, including logging, and enhance aerial surveillance of the surrounding forests. We will do our utmost to protect the dense pine forests of Sobaeksan."
Pine wilt disease is caused by a nematode, approximately 1 mm in size, that proliferates within the tissues of pine trees. The nematodes cannot move long distances on their own and primarily spread to other trees through beetles such as the black pine weevil and the northern pine weevil.
Infected trees experience blocked crowns, hindering the supply of moisture. The browning of leaves that remain attached to the tree is one of the suspected symptoms of pine wilt disease.
Meanwhile, the Korea Forest Service established a long-term national pest control strategy in February to combat pine wilt disease. The confirmation of the suspected case in Sobaeksan will depend on the results of the second test.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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