A portion of ‘Banryongpine’, a natural monument in Icheon, tested positive for wilt disease… Promote detailed inspection

Some branches of the banryong pine tree in Dorip-ri, Baeksa-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, a natural monument, have tested positive for pine wilt disease, and the city of Icheon is promoting detailed testing and urgent protective measures.

Icheon City announced on the 9th, "Since about a month ago, the leaves of some branches of Banryong pine have been turning red, we referred the case to a specialized institution and tested with a simple diagnostic kit, and the result was positive for pine wilt disease."

Previously, Icheon City received a report from a citizen that the leaves were drying early last month and visually inspected the Banryong pine trees with an expert, but at the time, it was determined that the leaf withering phenomenon was caused by environmental influences, not wilt disease.

On the 5th, after receiving a tip from citizens, reporters visited the site and confirmed that the leaves on some branches behind the Banryongsong entrance road had turned brown and dried out, and notified the city again.

Accordingly, on the 6th, the day after the report, the city conducted a test using a simple diagnostic kit with an expert and was notified that the result was positive.

The simple diagnostic test was conducted by collecting samples from various places, including the main stem and branches showing leaf withering. According to the city's explanation, only samples taken from some branches tested positive.

The city held an emergency response meeting on the morning of the 8th and decided to request a detailed inspection from specialized organizations such as the Gyeonggi Province Environment and Forestry Research Institute.

In addition, in consultation with relevant organizations such as the National Heritage Administration and Gyeonggi Province, which manage natural monuments, we decided to take emergency control and protection measures, such as removing branches that tested positive.

In addition, it was decided to notify residents of this fact and block access to Banryongsong.

After receiving the report, Icheon Mayor Seong Soo-seok said, “Banryong Pine is a precious national heritage that must be preserved,” and instructed the responsible department to “work closely with relevant professional organizations and experts to establish and implement all possible protection and pest control measures.”

Banryongsong, which means 'the appearance of a dragon curled up on the ground before ascending to the sky', has a unique shape and is valuable as a biological material, so it was designated as a natural monument on December 30, 1996.

This pine tree has a total height of 4.25m and a circumference of 1.83m at chest height. At about 2m in height, the branches twist like a dragon trimming and split in all directions, forming a wide spread shape.

There is also a story that it is one of the pine trees planted by the monk Doseon at the end of the Silla Dynasty when he predicted that a great person would be born here, in Hamheung, Seoul, Gangwon-do, and Gyeryongsan Mountain.