Suwon Citizens' Comfort Embodied in 'Forest of Happiness' Created in Fire-Ravaged Sokcho

[Suwon Ilbo=Correspondent Suh Dong-young] A 'Forest of Happiness' embodying the comfort of Suwon citizens has been created for Gangwon Province, which suffered damage from last year's wildfires.

Suwon City commenced the Forest of Happiness project on public forest land at 786-12 Kyodong, Sokcho, completing it at the end of May.

The completed forest covers approximately 2 hectares of the total 2.94 hectare area. Since it was too dangerous for ordinary citizens to conduct forest recovery work, construction was carried out through a professional forestry company.

Initially, Suwon City planned to hold a recovery reforestation event with direct participation of Suwon residents on approximately 1 hectare of accessible land, but this was postponed due to COVID-19.

On the Kyodong public forest that became barren due to the wildfire, a total of 830 trees of three species, including approximately 2-meter-tall pine trees, were planted.

Previously, Suwon City signed a memorandum of understanding with Sokcho City and the Jae-Suwon Gangwon Province Residents Association on February 20 for the creation of the 'Forest of Happiness,' pledging active cooperation.

This is the result of Mayor Yeum Tae-young's proposal at the 'Happy Imagination Talk Concert with Suwon Citizens' following the simultaneous wildfires that occurred in Gangwon Province last year, combined with the will of Suwon citizens to create a Suwon Citizens' Forest in the damaged areas.

Going forward, Suwon City plans to create additional facilities such as information signs within the Forest of Happiness, and will hold a citizen participation tree-planting event around October while monitoring the COVID-19 situation.

Mayor Yeum Tae-young stated, "Since local regions best understand their own pain and frustrations, we have created the Suwon and Sokcho Forests of Happiness for forest restoration, and have also proposed to local governments throughout the nation the creation of Citizens' Forests named after their respective regions," adding, "I hope these trees will grow well and become a source of hope for the residents of Sokcho and Gangwon Province."