Baeksong (Korean White Pine) on Wonhyoro (Road) in Seoul
- Item : Natural Monument No 6
- Quantity and Volume : one, 73㎡
- Designated Day : 1962. 12.03
- Site : 87-2, Wonhyoro 4(sa)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Maintaining Agency : City of Seoul
As a white pine tree turns to white color by getting stripped the bark of the tree, it is called Baeksong (White Pine) or Baekgolsong (White Bone Pine Tree). The tree is native to China and brought by envoys to the Joseon dynasty from China.
The tree is estimated to be about 500 years old and 10m in height and 2m in girth. Hanging down branches are propped with supports and the lower part has got medical treatment with surgical operation. As it is in the yard of a private house, general public are prohibited to visit. it doesn't seem to have any risk to damage.
On the west hill around the tree there are a rock which are carved with a word, Waemyeongganghwajicheo which means 'a place where Japan and China reconciled themselves with each other', and big old trees such as the zelkova which is designated as nurse-tree by Seoul Metropolitan Government. From this, this district seems to have been an important place, but there has been nothing known about the history of the tree so far.
As the white pine tree is rare, it has been looked after by our ancestors for a long time, and very valuable as a material for biological study, it is designated and protected as a Natural Monument.