Governor Choo Mi-ae: "Pine Wilt Disease Spreading...Gyeonggi Province Leads World in Control Research"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae visited the Osan Mulhyanggi Arboretum on the 7th to inspect the current status of the pine wilt disease response and encourage control research teams at the Gyeonggi Province Forest and Environment Research Institute.

Governor Choo said through social media that day, "Pine wilt disease is spreading," and "I visited the Gyeonggi Province Forest and Environment Research Institute, which is conducting control research and control measures, to encourage them." Pine wilt disease is a condition where pine trees dry and die due to pine wood nematodes transmitted by longhorn beetles such as the black pine beetle, and is called the 'AIDS of pine trees' because there is no cure.

Damage within Gyeonggi Province is rising sharply. According to the province, infected trees in the province totaled 116,665, an increase of 67.8% over the past year. Pine wilt disease, which first occurred in Gwangju in 2006, has spread to 25 cities and counties in the province over 20 years, and this year infections were first confirmed in Osan, Siheung, and Guri. The number of infection diagnoses has doubled over three years. On the 5th, the province announced strengthened control measures and decided to establish a dedicated task force (TF) starting this month to oversee control planning, on-site inspections, and operation of a regional control consultative body, while promoting joint control with adjacent areas such as Seoul and Gangwon Province and collaboration with related agencies including the Korea Forest Service. This visit marks a field response just two days after the announcement of the measures, with Governor Choo emphasizing strengthened prevention and diagnostic capacity as well as safety management for on-site work such as mowing and logging.

Governor Choo cited climate change and changes in control methods as reasons for the sharp increase in damage. She explained, "Due to the climate crisis, the active period of longhorn beetles is lengthening, and after discontinuing aerial pesticide spraying due to potential harm to honeybees and beneficial insects, forest damage is increasing rapidly."

She also offered an assessment of the research institute's control capabilities. "I also encouraged the research team that collects samples of dead trees within Gyeonggi Province and conducts infection diagnosis one by one under microscopes," Governor Choo said, adding "Fortunately, the Gyeonggi Province Forest and Environment Research Institute is at the forefront globally in the field of pine wilt disease control research."

She said, "I will ensure that support and attention continue so that scientific control capabilities can be further strengthened."