Gangneung Citizens Share Hope with Tree Planting Event

Gangneung, South Korea – Over 2,000 residents participated in the ‘2026 Gangneung Citizens Sharing Trees of Hope’ event held at the Gangneung Hockey Center on March 13, 2026, receiving a variety of tree saplings to promote reforestation and environmental stewardship.

Event Details and Participation

The event, a joint effort by Gangwon Ilbo, Gangneung City, the Eastern Regional Forest Service, and the Gangneung City Forestry Association, saw citizens arriving as early as 5 a.m., four hours before the scheduled start, to secure their share of the 24,000 trees prepared by Gangneung City and the Eastern Regional Forest Service. The Gangneung City Forestry Association contributed an additional 25,500 tree saplings.

Participants could receive up to 13 trees, including a pine mushroom sawdust badge, with a selection of 15 species available, including persimmon, plum, flower apple, and mountain ash. The trees were distributed as a mix of fruit trees and wild plants, as well as medicinal and landscaping varieties.

Community Involvement and Forest Fire Prevention

Choi Kang-hee, a resident of Seongsan-myeon, Gangneung-si, expressed her intention to plant the received trees in her backyard, highlighting the community’s commitment to nurturing the environment. The event too featured promotional activities focused on forest fire prevention, with the Korea Forest Service collecting signatures from attendees pledging to prevent forest fires.

Collaboration for Forest Preservation

Officials from the participating organizations emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to protect the forests in the Gangneung region. Gangneung City Vice Mayor Kim Sang-young, Eastern Regional Forest Service Director Choi Soo-cheon, Gangneung City Forestry Association President Lee Dae-yong, and Gangwon Ilbo Gangneung Headquarters Chief Woo Seung-ryong personally distributed trees to residents, demonstrating their support for the initiative.

Looking Ahead

Event organizers expressed gratitude for the strong citizen participation and hope that the planted trees will contribute to a denser and healthier forest ecosystem in the Gangneung area. The event underscores the community’s dedication to environmental sustainability and the value placed on preserving natural resources.