Gyeonggi Province Confirms 35 Cases of Pine Tree Movement

Gyeonggi Province conducted inspections on the movement of pine trees to block the inflow of pine wilt disease into the province starting from the 9th, and confirmed a total of 35 cases through the 13th, with no cases of pine wilt disease infection detected, it announced on the 14th.

The province will conduct intensive crackdowns on pine tree movement through the 29th.

The province detected one 25-ton truck carrying felled pine trees entering at Guri IC from Samcheok, Gangwon Province on the 9th, and on the 10th, it identified dozens of pine trees with unclear shipment sources stacked at a timber yard in Wabu-eup, Namyangju-si. On the 11th, 31 cases of pine tree movement were confirmed at the Icheon-si Wonha and Songsan inspection checkpoints, but all were found to be unrelated to pine wilt disease, the province explained.

Prior to the intensive crackdown, on the 1st, the province seized 28 pine trees that were illegally imported into the province from Changwon, Gyeongnam, a pine tree export prohibition zone, at Misan-dong, Siheung-si, and incinerated them all.

An official from the province stated, "Fortunately, it has been confirmed that no pine trees infected with pine wilt disease have been imported into the province so far," and urged caution, saying, "After the guidance period ends next month, those caught violating the movement restrictions will face fines of up to 10 million won."