A 428-year-old pine tree located in Jukseong-ri, Gijang-gun, has been selected as the ‘2025 Tree of the Year’ by the Korea Forest Service.

The tree, long considered a symbol of peace and protection for local residents, was chosen for its cultural, ecological, and historical significance.

The announcement highlights the pine tree’s role not only as a natural monument but also as a key cultural asset. The selection is part of a national campaign to promote public awareness of protected and heritage trees and to develop them as local tourism resources.

The selection process included a document review, public online voting, and an on-site evaluation by a panel of experts.

The Jukseong-ri pine tree was chosen from among 46 candidate trees across 11 cities and provinces, recognized for its unique connection to local traditions and community life.

Designated as a protected tree under the Forest Protection Act, this particular pine stands near a traditional village shrine known as a Dangjip.

Locals still hold annual ceremonies beneath its branches, including the Pungeoje, a traditional ritual offering prayers to the sea god for safe fishing and abundant harvests.

The tree is also associated with the local intangible cultural heritage of bountiful harvest festivals, further reinforcing its role as a living symbol of regional identity.

In the evaluation process, the pine tree scored highly in both qualitative and quantitative categories. These included assessments of ecological value, cultural significance, and historical relevance, along with factors like the local management system and promotional activities tied to the tree. Online voting results were also considered in the final selection.

The tree is one of 228 protected trees currently managed by the city of Busan, including 12 designated monuments. The oldest protected tree in the region is a 1,346-year-old zelkova in Jang-an-eup, while the youngest is a 104-year-old pine in Noksan-dong, Gangseo-gu.

Fleet Chinhae

USAG Daegu