Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
Controversy rises over palm tree photo zone on Gyeongpo Beach
Palm trees are planted in rows on Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, to attract tourists, Sept. 17 photo. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
By Bahk Eun-ji
Controversy is brewing over palm trees planted by Gangneung City on Gyeongpo Beach for the purpose of providing a unique tourist experience.
The city government of Gangneung in Gangwon Province said Thursday that it had planted the 46 palm trees, including Washington filifera and Phoenix canariensis, around Gyeongpo Beach and the Gangneung KTX Station to provide a unique attraction for residents and tourists.
It said it planted the palm trees, commonly found on the southern resort island of Jeju and southern regions here, to raise awareness of climate change and create an unusual urban landscape.
The problem is that Gangneung in winter is not warm enough for the palm trees to survive. For this reason, the city plans to uproot the trees and transplant them elsewhere in November when the temperature drops.
It has rented these trees from a private company, and the cost of planting and maintaining them on Gyeongpo Beach for about two months is around 15 million won ($12,750).
Opinions from the local community are divided over this.
Palm trees planted on Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Sept. 17 photo. Yonhap
Cho Ju-hyun, a member of Gangneung City Council, said what the city has done was a unique and experimental program.
“It may not be properly managed due to the cold weather in the province, but from a landscape perspective, it can provide local residents and tourists with a different and unique experience,” Cho said.
However, another councilor, Lee Jae-ahn, said tourists and locals visiting the place expecting to see the trees will be disappointed if they visit after they are moved in November.
“It is good to create an exotic landscape, but it seems more necessary to select a tree species that can symbolize Gangneung and promote the region,” Lee told The Korea Times.
Hong Yu-mi, 28-year-old resident of Gangneung, said she thinks the city government wasted too much money on the trees to have them there for just two months.
“I hope tourists will go to Jeju Island to enjoy exotic palm trees, not Gangneung. I can't understand why the city planted palm trees on a beach while just leaving pine tree forests around the area unattended,” Hong said.
“The city has to establish a tourism policy that is more sustainable and shows the unique characteristics of Gangneung. For example, the pine tree is a symbol of Gangneung and a natural heritage to be preserved, so if the city government comes up with an idea to create an exotic ambience by using pine trees, that sounds more reasonable.”
Some residents, however, have shown a positive response to the palm trees.
“It felt like I was traveling overseas when I saw the palm trees on the beach. My husband and I were pleased to see them because we couldn't travel overseas due to the pandemic,” said Yoon Nan-hee, a 67-year-old resident of Gangneung who lives near Gyeongpo Beach.
An official of Gangneung City said planting the trees was a pilot project, and they have been collecting responses from different people.
“Tourists used to visit the beach only in summer for swimming, but starting several years ago, they began to come during all seasons and we needed ideas to provide them with a tourist experience other than swimming,” said Kim Seok-joong, a director of the city's culture and tourism division.
“As for the palm trees, there are no detailed plans as yet. Whether to continue the program next year will be decided after internal discussions,” Kim said.