The recent surge in developments in Jeju has had a significant impact on the amount of forestland here. Critics say something must be done now to preserve what’s left, before it’s too late. Suejin Choi has more.
48 percent of the land on Jeju Island is covered in forests and wooded areas. These are home to several World Natural Heritage sites… but have been shrinking in size every year.

Over the past five years, over 500 plots of forest land have been used to construct houses, buildings and roads.

As of 2014, 49% of the forest construction was for housing… 38% for public and storage facilities… 3% for roads and 2% for tourist attractions.

[INTERVIEW]
Lee Chang-ho / Jeju Forest & Recreation Policy Division
Over the past five years, an average 137 hectares of forestland annually was converted to farmland, housing sites, and tourist attractions.
<인터뷰: 이창호/ 道 산림휴양정책과장>
"최근 5년간 평균 137헥타르의 산지가 다른 용도로 전용됐는데, 전용목적은 농지조성, 주택지조성, 관광지개발이었습니다."

Every year, the total area of forest land on the island has been shrinking. Not only is this resulting in the reduction of clean forest air, but the pace of reduction has been speeding up in recent years, and is a cause for concern.

[INTERVIEW]
Yi Yeong-woong / Jeju Federation of Environmental Movements
Jeju’s forests have great public value for their groundwater recharge and recreational opportunities. Measures need to be taken to prevent indiscriminate development so that the forests can be preserved.
<인터뷰: 이영웅/ 제주환경운동연합 사무국장>
"산림인 경우에는 제주 지하수 함양과 산림 휴양기능 등 공적인 가치가 높기 때문에 무분별한 개발보다는 보전을 위한 제도개선 마련이 필요하다고 보여집니다."

[reporter]
Suejin Choi

Forest land used for land development is almost impossible to restore. This is all the more reason why policies are in urgently needed to strengthen the preservation of Jeju’s natural environment.

Suejin Choi KCTV