Goheung Oka-ri Black Pine

The black pine (gomsol) belongs to the pine family; it is called 'black pine' because its needles are coarser than those of the Korean red pine, and its winter buds are greyish-white rather than the red pine's reddish buds. Because it grows along the coast it is also known as 'haesong' (sea pine), and because its bark is darker than the red pine's, it is also called 'heuksong' (black pine). Highly resistant to sea winds and salt, it is widely planted as a windbreak or coastal shelterbelt. The Goheung Oka-ri black pine is estimated to be around 300 years old, 14m tall, with a girth of 127–130cm. It stands as a solitary old tree on the slope of the old town wall (eupseong) of Heungyang County (Jeollanam-do Monument), together with some twenty black pines planted around it as a protective shelterbelt, and beneath it grow a mixture of bead trees, lacquer trees, Mallotus japonicus, Japanese pepper trees, chestnut trees, Asian jasmine, Boston ivy and silver grass. About a hundred years ago, Kim Jeong-tae, a former Magistrate of Yeonggwang, built a pavilion called Chwisongjeong directly beneath this old tree, which has been maintained to this day. Outstanding in size, form and surrounding scenery, the Goheung Oka-ri black pine is an old tree fully worthy of preservation as a genetic resource.

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Where it is

Region

Goheung, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물