By Kwon Mee-yoo
Beware of pocketing acorns fallen from trees at national parks — if you are caught collecting them, you will be fined or even jailed.
The Korea National Park Service (KNPS) said Thursday it will impose a ban on picking from trees things such as acorns, nuts and berries in public places to protect wild animals.
Acorns are a food source for wild animals living in the parks such as squirrels, wild boars and Manchurian black bears in the autumn. It is also a part of the ecological system as insects, including rice weevils, spawn in the nut.
“The amount of acorns decreased this year and we have to protect the supply for the wild animals to feed on,” a KNPS official said.
Under the regulations, those caught collecting acorns at the scene will face up to three years in prison or a maximum 30 million won ($27,000) fine, depending on the amount. Even those caught with a handful of acorns will be fined 100,000 won.
“Some visitors pick up a handful of acorns without any sense of guilt. We ask them to stop doing so since even just one is connected to the ecosystem of the park,” he said. Last year, 61 people were caught collecting acorns and other plants, down from 89 the previous year.