Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
PyeongChang ski slopes source of contention
Seen is Jeongseon Alpine Centre, a venue for downhill skiing events of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, on Mount Gariwang in Gangwon Province in this February 2018 file photo. / Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
KFS orders Gangwon Province to restore Mount Gariwang
By Baek Byung-yeul
The Korea Forest Service (KFS) issued an ultimatum Thursday to the Gangwon Provincial Government, ordering it to restore a mountainous area in which a downhill ski course for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics was constructed.
The state-run agency, which owns Mount Gariwang, granted development permits to Gangwon Province on condition the original environment is restored. Located over PyeongChang and Jeongseon in the province, Mount Gariwang is known for being covered with 500-year-old trees.
However, the provincial government and residents there have been demanding gondolas and roads leading up to the slopes be preserved, saying the province needs them to attract more tourists and a bid for the 2021 Winter Asian Games.
“The KFS has discussed with Gangwon Province the restoration plan for the mountain but the province has demanded the retention of the gondolas and the roads,” the KFS said. “Given the ski slopes on Mount Gariwang were constructed on condition of reforestation, the Gangwon Province governor should implement the reforestation process.”
Gangwon Province was allowed to use the mountain from May 2014 to Dec. 31, 2018. Accordingly, the province should mandatorily submit a restoration plan of Mount Gariwang to Jeongseon National Forest Station that manages the national forest by Jan. 31, the KFS said.
In response to the residents who want to keep gondolas and roads there, the KFS said it will improve its communication efforts to persuade them to agree with the reforestation plan.
“The KFS will propose residents establish a council for the development of the Jeongseon area and discuss measures to improve the regional economy instead of the retention of gondolas,” the KFS said.
Though it was reported that the restoration plan will cost 400 billion won ($355 million), the KFS said the cost of the restoration plan will be at around 80 billion won ($71 million) including 7.6 billion won for demolition and 3.2 billion won for emergency disaster prevention.
The government has been criticized for constructing ski slopes on the mountain destroying the 500-year-old mountain forest.
About 40 local green campaign organizations also urged the government to carry out the mountain restoration plan at a press conference held at the square in front of the Gangwon Provincial office on Dec. 26.
“Gangwon Province and some people claim the ski slopes should be kept intact because it will be difficult to restore the previous environment of the mountain. But demolishing the gondolas and ski slopes is the minimum requirement to restoring the environment of the mountain,” the green campaigners said in a statement.