Korea National Arboretum
TypeBotanical garden
LocationPocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Coordinates37°45′18″N 127°09′54″E / 37.75500°N 127.16500°E / 37.75500; 127.16500
Websitekna.forest.go.kr

Korea National Arboretum (Korean: 국립수목원) is an over-500-year-old arboretum located in Pocheon city of Gyeonggi Province of South Korea. It is widely known as "Gwangneung Forest (Korean: 광릉숲)" by the public. It is designated as UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve and the country's 11th natural monument.

Its history can be traced back to Joseon Dynasty. The planting of large forests started during the reign of Sejo of Joseon. 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.[1] 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.[2]

The arboretum includes the white-bellied woodpecker and 900 plant species.

References

  1. ↑ Yoo Yeon Tae, Travel around near Seoul, p.131 2005-5-20 Nexus BOOKS, Seoul
  2. ↑ "국립수목원 - 기관소개 > 연혁". kna.forest.go.kr. Archived from the original on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
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