Mr. Suh Seung-jin, Chief of the Korea Forest Service has announced that the plant community area of royal azaleas in the Beakdu Daegan Mountain System(BDMS) is to be a genetic recourse-protected forest in which a 550-year-old royal azalea has been found.


There is a picturesque and magnificent colony of royal azaleas spreading around the Ok-dol peak located along the way to Mt. Sobaek from Mt. Teabaek. What catches our eyes most is the royal azalea that has been living for 550 years.


The Korea National Arboretum researched how old the tree is. Surprisingly enough, it turned out to be 550 years old. The tree is the oldest one in Korea and 5m tall.
Its root has a girth of 105cm and it has three branches which are 64cm, 52cm and 45.4cm respectively in circumference. It has such a natural beauty and wonder, having remained marvelous without man-created beauty.


It had been believed that the 200-year-old royal azalea in Jeongsun, Gangwon Province designated as No 348 natural treasure was the oldest. In August, 2005, a 450-year-old royal azalea in Mt. Gaji was designated as No 462 natural treasure, regarded as the oldest but the oldest one has been newly reannounced.


A royal azalea is a broad-leaved and deciduous tree which grows well in alpine regions so the recently found tree is not only regarded as the oldest but also serving as an eco-corridor between royal azalea plant communities in Mt. Teabaek and Mt. Sobaek.


The Korea Forest Service has designated the royal azalea communities including the oldest tree as a genetic resource protected area and a protected tree, and planed to enclose the area with a fence and tend the trees, preserving herbaceous plants.


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