Pine wilt disease is showing a 'third major outbreak' nationwide, with the infection areas expanding in South Jeolla Province. This situation necessitates a shift from local government-led pest control to a more robust, national-level response led by the Korea Forest Service.
According to the Korea Forest Service, from June 2025 to May this year, the number of pine trees affected by the disease reached 1.77 million, an increase of 280,000 from the previous year's 1.49 million. The agency is currently viewing the situation as a 'third major outbreak' and is enhancing national pest control measures.
The situation in South Jeolla Province is also concerning.
Data from Hampyeong County indicates that the areas affected by the disease expanded from four towns and 44 villages in September last year to seven towns and 62 villages by August this year. In August, 12 villages covering 4,770 hectares were added to the area where the removal of pine trees is prohibited.
As a result, the total area under removal prohibition in Hampyeong has increased from 17,366 hectares to 22,136 hectares. This prohibition zone is designated to manage areas within a 2-kilometer radius of infection sites, rather than the actual infected area.
In Shinan, 153 infected trees have been reported since January this year, following the discovery of two infected trees in the Jeoun Sports Park area last September.
Muan has also confirmed 46 cases of infection among 274 trees tested this year, including 12 recently identified in Samhyang-eup. Currently, Muan's pest monitoring team consists of eight members.
In contrast, Mokpo has not reported any cases of infected trees to date. Given the infection situations in Muan, Hampyeong, and Shinan, there is an increasing need for regional pest control measures to prevent the spread to areas that have not yet reported infections.
The central government is also responding. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong and Korea Forest Service Director Park Eun-sik visited a special pest control area in Yangpyeong on September 8 to assess the control measures and discuss ways to enhance effectiveness, including species conversion.
On October 4, Good Morning Economy reported that Minister Song expressed a need for national-level measures, stating, "Please watch over us," while Director Park noted in a radio interview that "over 98% of pine trees are still healthy."
However, with the number of affected trees rising to 1.77 million nationwide and the management areas in South Jeolla Province expanding, the effectiveness of future national pest control strategies at the local level will be crucial.
Pine wilt disease spreads regardless of administrative boundaries, highlighting the need for a coordinated approach to monitoring, testing, removal of infected trees, preventive treatments, and pest control across Hampyeong, Shinan, Muan, and Mokpo, where no infections have been confirmed yet.
As the nation faces a third major outbreak, attention is focused on whether a proactive, regional pest control strategy led by the Korea Forest Service can effectively curb the spread in South Jeolla Province.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.