Korea National Arboretum

Korea National Arboretum
Type	Botanical garden
Location	Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Coordinates	37°45′18″N 127°09′54″E
Website	kna.forest.go.kr

Korea National Arboretum (Korean: 국립수목원), also called Gwangneung Forest (광릉숲),^[1] is an arboretum in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is designated as a UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve in 2010.^[2] The arboretum includes the white-bellied woodpecker and 900 plant species.

History

Its history can be traced back to the Joseon period. The planting of large forests started during the reign of King Sejo. He and Queen Jeonghui designated the area for a tomb which later named Gwangneung. Their tomb is one of Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following the construction of the tomb, it and its surrounding areas were designated as royal forest and kept under strict protection which lasted throughout post-Joseon history. The area was devastated during the Korean War.^[3] From 1983 to 1987, the central government went under project to develop the area as an arboretum with a forest museum. Upon its completion in 1987, it was finally open to the general public. In 1999 its status was elevated to National Arboretum becoming the first of its kind in the country's history.^[4] In 2020, it was reported to be a no kid zone.^[5]

References

1. "빌딩숲은 그만! 피톤치드 뿜뿜하는 광릉숲 커몬♥> 여행기사 :대한민국 구석구석". korean.visitkorea.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-06-14.
2. "BGCI GardenSearch". gardensearch.bgci.org. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
3. Yoo Yeon Tae, Travel around near Seoul, p.131 2005-5-20 Nexus BOOKS, Seoul
4. "국립수목원 - 기관소개 > 연혁". kna.forest.go.kr. Archived from the original on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
5. Chung, Esther (12 January 2020). "Parents learn to adapt to world of kid-free zones: Once controversial, the designation is now more accepted". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

External links

• Official website