Nearly 100 Trees Die at Incheon Grand Park; Environmental Group Demands Investigation

As nearly 100 trees have been found dead at Incheon Grand Park, a major park in Incheon, an environmental group has called for a thorough investigation into the cause.

According to data obtained today (August 18) by Incheon Green Korea from the Incheon Grand Park Office under the Incheon city government, 98 trees, including 67 pine trees and 31 broad-leaved trees, died and were felled last month at Incheon Grand Park in Jangsu-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon.

The park office explained that branches of the trees broke under the heavy load of snow during heavy snowfall in 2024, and that the damaged trees were pruned between May and June of last year.

It was later found that some of the trees ultimately died, leading to the removal of the dead trees last month.

However, Incheon Green Korea pointed out that there are no records detailing the locations, quantities, or extent of the damage to the trees affected by the heavy snow, arguing that the city's excessive pruning may have contributed to their deaths.

The group stated, "Photos taken last February show that severe pruning was carried out to an extent that makes it difficult to believe the trees' growth conditions were taken into consideration," adding, "There is a possibility that the excessive pruning contributed to the weakening of growth and subsequent death."

It continued, "If a situation occurs where 98 trees are removed from a major regional urban park, a thorough inspection of the cause is necessary," urging authorities to "investigate the impact of not only the snow damage but also heavy pruning on the mass die-off, and establish long-term tree management measures."

(Photo provided by Incheon Green Korea, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.