Pine tree logging is in full swing on a mountain in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province.
The trees along the middle of the mountain have turned red.
At a quick glance, it looks like autumn foliage, but these trees are actually drying up and dying after being infected with pine wilt disease.
Experts believe that the pine nematode, which was introduced from Japan to the Yeongnam region in the late 1980s, is currently experiencing its third major outbreak and is approaching its peak.
In fact, surveys show that the number of infected trees nationwide, which stood at 900,000 two years ago, has nearly doubled this year.
While damage remains concentrated in the Yeongnam region, the disease is spreading across the country, with infected trees having been discovered earlier this year in areas such as Guryongsan mountain in Gangnam, Seoul, and Bukhansan mountain.
Climate change, including abnormal high temperatures, has significantly extended the active period of the vector insects.
[Chang Woo-sung / Forest Protection Team Leader, Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province: The timing for the vector insects to hatch and emerge is continuing to accelerate as temperatures rise. They used to hatch around early May, but now it has been pulled forward to around mid-April...]
If infected trees are left unattended, they dry out completely and can even threaten human safety.
The likelihood of them falling due to strong winds increases, and dead trees along roadsides in particular could lead to major accidents.
[Seo Jae-chul / Senior Specialist, Green Korea United: Imagine a car driving on a highway where even a falling golf ball is dangerous, and a tree about 10 meters tall and 20 to 30 centimeters in diameter flies toward you. It will directly threaten the safety of roads and railways.]
Experts point out that infected trees must be removed promptly and that prevention-centered control policies should be actively implemented.
[Jeong Jong-guk / Professor, Department of Forest Environmental Protection, Kangwon National University: It is already too late. Because the damage is severe, we need a form of species transition where we remove the pine trees there and replace them with other trees that are not vulnerable to pine wilt disease...]
Experts advise that bold choices and concentration are necessary to protect pine forests of high conservation value with limited budgets and manpower.
Turning Red and Dying Dry... "Likely to Hit Peak" as It Spreads Nationwide (SBS 8 News, September 9, 2026)
(Reported by Dong Eun-young | Producer: Choi Yoon-seo | Cinematography: Kang Si-woo, Hangyul | Video Editing: Lee Sang-min | Design: Park Tae-young | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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