President Lee Jae-myung marked the 81st Arbor Day on Saturday, pledging to do his utmost "so that the energy of hope may spread widely across this land again, just as new shoots sprout and flowers bloom in spring after a harsh winter."
"The Republic of Korea is a nation with steadfast resilience that has always overcome adversity to cultivate hope," Lee wrote in a Facebook post.
"Our mountains and fields, once devastated by war and poverty, were revived by the hands of the people," he said. "Trees planted one by one with care have grown to more than 8 billion across the country, and thanks to that, our mountains and rivers are once again filled with green life."
Lee said he planted cherry trees and peach trees at the presidential residence and Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential compound, to mark the occasion.
"They are still small saplings, but with warm spring sunshine, they will soon blossom and bear abundant fruit, just like the trees nurtured by the devotion of the people," he added.