"With the Korea Forest Service rapidly deploying government-wide firefighting resources and mounting a strong initial response, we cut main-fire suppression time by 58% compared to 2025 and reduced major wildfires by 67%. We also achieved 'zero' casualties during the spring wildfire prevention period."
Park Eun-sik, Minister of the Korea Forest Service, said in an interview with Seoul Economic Daily on the 28th, "During this year's wildfire prevention period, all Forest Service employees mobilized for fire prevention activities to protect the lives and property of the people." He added, "As wildfires occur throughout the year, we will engage in continuous wildfire prevention to safeguard public life and safety."
According to the Korea Forest Service, forest damage during this year's spring wildfire prevention period (January 1 to May 15) totaled 722 hectares, a 99% decrease from 104,975 hectares in 2025, with zero casualties reported.
"As a result of strengthened prevention measures by cause and timing — including the shredding of 96,000 tons of agricultural byproducts and the deployment of 20,000 personnel for mobile enforcement and campaigns — incineration-related wildfires decreased 32% and accidental fires within forests fell 38% compared to 2025," Park said. "We are currently operating a recovery and restoration task force for the massive 2025 Yeongnam region wildfire damage, and we will complete emergency recovery by the end of June to prevent secondary damage before the rainy season."
Park also expressed his intention to strengthen the income safety net through customized support for forestry workers and forest owners.
The Korea Forest Service is implementing support measures for forestry workers and forest owners, paying 50.3 billion won in forestry direct payments in 2024 and 51.6 billion won in 2025, and identifying 149 forestry and forest regulatory improvement tasks, of which 52 have been improved. The agency also expanded the tax exemption ceiling for timber felling and transfer income from 6 million won to 30 million won annually, taking effect this January. Tea plants have been added to forestry direct payment items to boost forestry workers' income.
"We plan to introduce the 'Forest Public Value Conservation Payment System' for forest owners in protected forest areas who contribute to enhancing the public value of forests, with implementation set for May 2027," Park stressed. "We will continuously expand production and distribution infrastructure for forest products to support the sustainable development of the forest food product industry."
Park also pledged to enhance public happiness by expanding green spaces in daily life and forest welfare services.
The Korea Forest Service expanded 292 urban forests and lifestyle gardens, and in 2025 opened the Geumsan Natural Recreation Forest along with the Jinan Highland Forest Healing Center and the Gimhae Forest Experience Center. Driven by such infrastructure expansion, the number of users of forest welfare services rose to 32.87 million in 2025 from 31.6 million in 2024.
The agency is particularly active in regional revitalization through the East-West Trail project, Korea's first long-distance backpacking forest trail connecting the western and eastern ends of the country in a single line. The East-West Trail project is a massive initiative aimed at creating a world-class walking trail representing Korea, similar to Spain's Camino de Santiago.
"Thirty companies are participating and cooperating in the operation of the East-West Trail, and revenue at sites of the mountain village vitality specialization project increased 25% compared to 2024," Park said. "We will continuously operate customized programs linked with companies to build a sustainable operational foundation for mountain villages."
