Will 'Sodeok-dong hackberry tree' Woo Young-woo fell in love with be designated as natural monument?

연합뉴스 / 2022-07-25 10:49:45

▲ This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration, shows the Sodeok-dong Hackberry tree. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 25 (Yonhap) --"There is no one who did not play on that tree when they were young, there is no one who did not hold a feast under that tree on a happy day, and there is no one who did not pray when they were desperate."

While "Sodeok-dong hackberry tree" has been gaining a lot of interest as it appeared in the drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," which deals with the growth of an autism spectrum lawyer, attention is being paid to whether this tree will be designated as a natural monument.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Monday that it will be conducting an investigation to determine the cultural value of the hackberry tree in Bukbu-ri, Changwon, which appeared in the recent drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo."

This is in response to the fact that the hackberry tree became a topic of interest with the drama being a hit, and so was judged that the tree had great cultural value based on the shape and age of the tree.

In fact, it is said that the number of tourists visiting the village has increased in order to see the hackberry tree since the broadcast.

While the tree is said to be in the fictional area, "Sodeok-dong, Giyeong city, Gyeonggi province" in the drama, it is actually located in Bukbu-ri, Daesan-myeon, Uichang-gu, Changwon city, and was designated as a protected tree in 2015.

The tree is estimated to be about 500 years-old. It is located on the top of a village with an open surrounding, is 16m high and has a tree circumference of 6.8m.

Particularly, the crown width, which refers to the maximum width of the branches and leaves of a tree, is about 27m, and is considered to be a large and old tree among the same type of hackberry trees.

In the drama, this tree, which is referred to a "Dangsan tree" has been protecting the village for a long time, and plays a decisive role in protecting the village ahead of the road construction.

"It is so big that four or five people will have to hug it, and has a very high conservation value because of its excellent location and growth conditions," said Changwon city through the social media.

Hackberry tree is distributed all over the country and is often regarded as the town's Dangsan tree.

Among the old and tall trees currently designated as natural monuments, there are two hackberry trees, namely Hwangmokgeun (Hackberry) in Geumnam-ri, Yecheon and Hackberry of Sudong-ri, Gochang.

The Cultural Heritage Administration is planning to conduct an on-site investigation with experts such as the Cultural Heritage Committee and its Natural Monuments Division members soon.

"We plan to investigate the cultural value of the tree, including the history and growth status of the tree, and review whether to designate it as a natural monument along with the villagers and the local government," said an official from the Cultural Heritage Administration.