A 900-Year-Old Ginkgo Tree Planted by a General from the Goryeo Dynasty Sprouts 'New Leaves' After Overcoming the Flames

In Hadoong, the 900-year-old ginkgo tree in Duyang-ri has begun to sprout new leaves, even after being charred during the recent wildfires in Gyeongnam's Sancheong and Hadong regions.

According to a report by Busan's KNN on the 30th, three months after the large wildfire in Gyeongnam, new leaves started to emerge from various parts of the ginkgo tree in Duyang-ri, Hadong.

Thanks to the decisive pruning of burnt branches and concentrated nutrient injections to create an environment where the tree could regenerate itself, the recovery was made possible.

Despite the evident signs of the fire's devastation, the 'new leaves' that bloomed in between were proof that the tree was not dead and was returning to its original state.

One resident remarked, “Seeing nature recover on its own seems to lessen our trauma as well,” in response to the news of the tree’s recovery.

This resilient tree, healing the wounds of the residents with its strong vitality, is believed to have been planted by General Gang Min-cheom (963-1021) from the Goryeo Dynasty.

The villagers have revered and protected this tree, which was designated as a Gyeongsangnam-do cultural monument in 1983.

Regarding the tree's regeneration, Dr. Kim Cheol-eung, a tree doctor, stated, “The tree needs a lot of leaves for optimal growth, so we will continue to supply nutrients.”

The residents here hope that the nearly thousand-year-old ginkgo tree, which has stood its ground over adversity, will recover and provide a reliable shade for future generations.

YouTube 'KNN NEWS'

Image source: New leaves sprouting from the ginkgo tree in Duyang-ri, Hadong / youtube 'knn news', appearance of the ginkgo tree in Duyang-ri, Hadong, filmed in 2015 / photo provided = National Heritage Portal