I Wish I Could See Red Mountains and White Clothes

“Bulgeunsan (Red Mountain)” is a short story by Korean writer Kim Dong-In. “I wish I could see red mountains and white clothes.” These are the final words left by the dying protagonist.

The “red mountains” refer to his homeland ripped apart by the exploitation of the Japanese. The protagonist’s last memory of the mountains in his homeland were bare, showing red soil rather than green with trees.
This was the kind of landscape that continued until the 1950s. The Korean War had devastated the country and 68% of the mountains were barren. Mountains without trees posed extreme danger. Without tree roots to absorb rainwater, villages at the foot of mountains were either flooded or buried in soil pouring down the slopes during monsoon seasons.

Only a half century later, however, Korea was recognized as a country with successful afforestation which is rather miraculous given the time it takes for trees to grow. The United Nations recognized Korea as “the only country in the world after the Second World War to succeed in artificial plantation”. Lester Brown, a world-renowned environmentalist, spared no praise stating that “Korea’s afforestation is a miracle and serves as a model for developing countries”. The driving force behind this miraculous success is the afforestation project undertaken on a national scale since the 1970s.

전남 장성군 축령산 자연휴양림에는

The recreational forest in Chungnyungsan Mountain located in Jangseong-gun, South Jeolla Province is filled with sun trees and cedars covering a vast 1,148 hectares of land. Every year, over a million visitors from home and abroad visit this “sea of phytoncide” to find true peace for their body and soul. The largest area in Korea to succeed in afforestation, this forest is said to be as dense as any mountain in Germany or Switzerland, two of the most advanced countries in terms of afforestation.

Today, this forest is a national forest under the ownership of the Korea Forest Service. The credit for building such a beautiful forest, however, does not go to the government; rather, it goes to one individual by the name of Im Jong-Guk. A self-made man who had accumulated wealth by engaging in forestry business and harvesting special purpose crops, Im could have enjoyed a comfortable life but, instead, dedicated his whole life and wealth to afforestation. The definitive moment was when he saw cedars and sun trees reaching for the sky on privately-owned land of Inchon Kim Seong-Soo during colonial rule. He was deeply moved upon realizing that those beautiful trees could grow in his homeland, leading him to become the “plantation king” of Korea.

His dying wish before he passed away in 1987 was to “Plant more trees. That is the way to love your country”. In recognition of his contribution, the Korea Forest Service named the sun tree forest in Chungnyungsan Mountain the “Forest of the Late Im Jong-Guk” and listed his name on the “Forest’s Hall of Fame”. He is laid to rest in the forests of Chungnyungsan Mountain through a woodland burial.

As Im led by example through his passion for forests, the government promoted afforestation projects on a national scale beginning in the late 1960s. Prior to that, sand control projects took priority in order to prevent the collapse of mountain or coastal slopes.

When the Saemaul Undong movement picked up great momentum in the 1970’s, tree-planting events became nationally-participated Saemaul Undong events. The government designated Arbor Day in spring and Plantation Day in autumn as public holidays and promoted nationwide campaigns, encouraging all people including students and servicemen to plant and look after trees. The slogan, “Let’s make our homeland green with our own hands” aroused a sense of community and cooperation, while forming a consensus that forest resources were precious and needed to be protected. This is what made it possible for Korea to be recognized as “the only country in the world after the Second World War to succeed in artificial plantation”.