Suwon Citizens Plant 'Forest of Happiness' in Sokcho Following Last Year's Wildfire Damage

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City is creating a 'Forest of Happiness' in the Kyodong area of Sokcho City with warm intentions to comfort the pain of Gangwon-do residents affected by last spring's wildfire.

Suwon City, Sokcho City, and the Jae-Suwon Gangwon-do Citizens Association held a business agreement ceremony on the 20th at Sokcho City Hall in Gangwon-do Province to create the 'Forest of Happiness.'

The agreement ceremony was attended by Suwon Mayor Yeum Tae-young, Sokcho Mayor Kim Chul-soo, and Jae-Suwon Gangwon-do Citizens Association Chairman Choi Gwang-ju, who pledged active cooperation for the newly created forest.

The Forest of Happiness will be created on 2.94 hectares of publicly-owned forest at 786-12 Kyodong, Sokcho City.

The project site was severely damaged by the Gangwon-do wildfire last year, with most pine trees and other vegetation destroyed. Currently, with debris cleared away, the area resembles a barren mountain.

Starting in March, Suwon City will conduct afforestation by planting approximately 1,200 pine trees and other species suitable for the Sokcho region, contributing to the restoration of lush forest.

Additionally, an approximately 1-hectare area with good accessibility will host a tree-planting event in Sokcho this year, allowing Suwon citizens to directly participate in the recovery afforestation of the wildfire-damaged area.

A total budget of 300 million won has been allocated for the creation of this Forest of Happiness.

The Sokcho Forest of Happiness is the result of over a year of sustained efforts following Mayor Yeum Tae-young's proposal at the 'Happy Imagination Talk Concert with Suwon Citizens' held in late April last year to create a Suwon citizens' forest in Gangwon-do wildfire-damaged areas.

Subsequently, Suwon City coordinated with related organizations including Sokcho City, the Korea Forest Service, and Gangwon-do Provincial Office to select publicly-owned forest that is frequently used by citizens and urgently needs landscape restoration as the project site, advancing the creation of a forest containing the consolation of Suwon citizens.

Particularly meaningful is the active participation of members of the Jae-Suwon Gangwon-do Citizens Association, an organization composed of Suwon citizens originally from Gangwon-do, who will provide substantial human and material support.

Mayor Yeum Tae-young of Suwon said, “This Forest of Happiness will remain a good precedent for citizen-participated forest creation, brought together not only by Suwon citizens but also by Gangwon-do natives,” and added, “I hope to overcome this national disaster well and create a beautiful forest where Suwon and Sokcho citizens can be even happier.” He further stated, “I hope the Forest of Happiness becomes a model case of mutual prosperity and cooperation between local governments.”