The 500 Year History of Gwangneung Forest, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Korea
Explore Gwangneung forest and take a closer look at the distinctive trees at the Korea National Arboretum
Spring landscape of Yukrim LakeKorea National Arboretum
Rich biodiversity in Gwangneung forest
Gwangneung forest remains intact for five hundred years and is ecologically important as it is a climax forest where the types and numbers of trees have been stabilized. This type of forest is rare in temperate climate zones.
Bonseonsacheon streamKorea National Arboretum
From young saplings to giant old trees, a variety of 947 plant taxa is found in the forest. There are a number of birds living in the forest as they hunt for abundant insects. 6,251 taxa of fungi, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish call the forest their home as well.
Autumn at the Korea National ArboretumKorea National Arboretum
UNESCO recognized Gwangneung forest as an UNESCO biosphere reserve on June 2nd, 2010.
Winter landscape of Yukrim LakeKorea National Arboretum
The biosphere reserve stretches three cities in South Korea: Pocheon, Namyangju and Uijeongbu. The reserve extends eastwards for 18.1km, and southwards for 27.2km. It covers 244㎢ which is approximately 71 times larger than Central Park in New York City.
King Sejo of the Joseon Dynasty's portraitKorea National Arboretum
Five hundred years of history in Gwangneung forest
The seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1897), King Sejo (1455~1468)'s tomb, called Gwangneung, was created in the middle of the forest.
GwangneungjiKorea National Arboretum
Historical records of the forest
Gwangneung forest's history was well recorded through the Joseon era. Gwangneungji, published in 1796, presents diverse information about Gwangneung and its environs. According to the book, the forest was used as a hunting site for the Joseon royals before King Sejo was buried.
King Sejo's tombKorea National Arboretum
Royal tombs were considered highly sacred so that the forest where the king rests was forbidden to cut wood and set fire. This was monitored by government assigned officials and ten villages near the forest were ordered to conduct the constant surveillance of the area.
Old map of Gyeonggi-doKorea National Arboretum
Gwangneung is marked on the Haedong map from the Joseon era (18th Century).
Gwangneung forest was well-known for its woody and dense environment back then. This was frequently the subject of many poems written by Joseon Kings and scholars. The records mention that Korean nut pines and firs were planted in 1792 and 1798 in the forest.
Bird-eye view of the KNAKorea National Arboretum
Gwangneung forest and the Arboretum
In 1911, the forest was designated as first-degree protected land and called 'experimental forest' for botanical research. After almost 70 years of this designation, the government decided to create an arboretum on the research site in commemoration of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Gwangneung ashKorea National Arboretum
It was initially called the Gwangneung Arboretum. However, the Korea National Arboretum was officially inaugurated in 1999 as a forest bio-species research institution.
Mokryeon, Magnolia kobus DC.Korea National Arboretum
Trees at the Arboretum
Special trees are found at the Arboretum which sits on the five hundred years' history of Gwangneung forest. Explore the seven species of trees that have distinctive backgrounds.
Katsura treeKorea National Arboretum
The mother of all Katsura trees
Did you know that Katsura trees were first introduced to Korea in the 1910's and planted at the Arboretum. This giant Katsura is the ancestor of other Katsura trees across Korea.
Katsura treeKorea National Arboretum
In the autumn, the katsura reveals dazzling color and is known for its unique heart-shaped leaves.This species grows up to 30 meters and the diameter of its trunk is two meters to the maximum. The Katsura tree at the Arboretum is 30m long in height and 86m in diameter.
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Fontanesia phillyreoides Labill.Korea National Arboretum
The oldest Fontanesia fortune in Korea
Fontanesia grows near the main gate of the Arboretum. This tree was planted in the early 1930's using a sapling collected at the Yalu River. Interestingly, this Fontanesia is the origin of all its kind growing in Korea.
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Mokryeon, Magnolia kobus DC.Korea National Arboretum
The largest magnolia in Korea
This magnolia at the Arboretum is the largest of its kind in height. It is 27m tall and thought to be at least one hundred years old considering its size.
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Deciduous CypressKorea National Arboretum
Aquatic tree, water cypress
This water cypress was planted in water in order to exhibit its aquatic preference. This type of trees has peculiar roots called cypress knees. These organs enable trees to breathe above the water level. Thanks to the knees, cypress can grow submerged.
Water cypress at the Korea National ArboretumKorea National Arboretum
Water cypress belongs to conifer, however, its leaves fall in autumn unlike its conifer relatives such as pine and fir. Its Korean name, Nak-woo-song, derived from its leaves' resemblance to feathers. Nak means to fall and woo refers to feathers, thus, falling feathers.
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Gwangneung ashKorea National Arboretum
Gwangneung ash, the specimen tree
Gwangneung ash, belongs to Oleaceae, was first discovered at this site in 1932. It is the specimen tree of Gwangneung ash, which was named because of the location of its first discovery.
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Oriental chestnut oakKorea National Arboretum
Galcham oak
This Galcham oak is thought to be at least 350 to 400 years old. There are several variations of oaks in Korea including Jolcham oak and Oriental cork oak. Among these many oaks, this one belongs to Galcham. Oak is Cham-namu in Korean meaning 'real tree' or 'true tree'.
Oriental chestnut oakKorea National Arboretum
The three-hundred-years old tree, Galcham oak at the Arboretum has been growing in alluvial soil, soils deposited by surface water, near the Bongseonsa-cheon river that flows in Gwangneung forest.
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Fir trail at the Korea National ArboretumKorea National Arboretum
Fir trail at the Arboretum
The fir trail at the Arboretum is one of the three well-known fir trails in South Korea. The fir trees were planted in 1927 using seeds from Woljeong-sa Temple in Mt. Odaesan, another famous place for its fir trail. This trail stretches around 200 meters.
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Explore large and unique trees growing across South Korea, here. The Korea National Arboretum is committed to protecting endangered trees. Continue to learn more about our effort to conserve native Korean trees, here.
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