Bangye-ri Ginkgo Tree

A ginkgo tree in Bangye-ri, Buron-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, estimated to be over 800 years old and designated as a Natural Monument.

Bangye-ri Ginkgo Tree

Overview

The Bangye-ri Ginkgo Tree (반계리 은행나무) is an old-growth tree standing in Bangye-ri, Buron-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and is a ginkgo known to be over 800 years old (with some estimates around 1,000 years). It was designated as Natural Monument No. 167 on December 7, 1964, and is evaluated as one of Korea's ginkgo trees with outstanding size and age. As the village guardian tree and a tree believed to protect the village, it also carries folk significance, giving it value both as natural heritage and as living cultural heritage.

Main Details

Designation Information

Designated name: Wonju Bangye-ri Ginkgo Tree (Natural Monument No. 167)
Date of designation: December 7, 1964
Location: Bangye-ri area, Buron-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Managing body: Korea Heritage Service and Wonju-si (delegated management by the local government)
Reason for designation: Large age and size, good growth condition, and high academic and folk value

Size and Age

The tree has been surveyed as about 32 m tall and about 14 m in circumference at breast height. Its branches spread evenly in all directions, forming a huge umbrella-shaped crown; in summer it provides deep shade, and in autumn its yellow foliage forms the centerpiece of the village landscape. Its age is generally estimated at over 800 years, and according to local tradition, it is also said to have been planted during the Goryeo period.

Ecological Characteristics

Ginkgo trees are known to be dioecious, but surveys of this tree have suggested that it may be a male tree that does not bear fruit, or that its sex is not clearly determined due to grafting or branch origin. Thanks to the ginkgo's characteristic resistance to pests and diseases and its long lifespan, it has endured for many years; several thick branches extend from the trunk, and some are supported by props. The area around the roots has been maintained to prevent soil compaction and poor drainage.

History and Folklore

Ginkgo trees often serve as village guardian trees (dangsan namu) and are objects of prayer during Jeongwol Daeboreum or village rites, and the Bangye-ri Ginkgo Tree has likewise been closely connected to the community rituals of village residents. According to the custom of believing that spirits dwell in trees that live long, damage to the tree was taboo, and this folk norm is evaluated as having contributed to its practical preservation. In addition, the Buron-myeon area where the tree stands is a water-transport junction where the Namhangang River and Seomgang River meet, and stories are also transmitted that it was a resting place for people traveling between old ferries and markets.

Conservation and Management

Since its designation as a Natural Monument, continuous management has been carried out, including surgery, removal and filling of decayed parts, installation of supports, nutrient supply, and drainage maintenance. For old-growth trees, hollowing inside the trunk and branch damage from strong winds and typhoons are cited as the greatest threats, and regular safety inspections and growth diagnoses are being conducted alongside.

Recent Trends

In May 2024, as the Cultural Heritage Administration was reorganized into the Korea Heritage Service, Natural Monuments began to be managed within the natural heritage system in earnest, and the Bangye-ri Ginkgo Tree is also having its designated name and management practices reorganized under this system. As concerns grow that abnormal high temperatures and concentrated heavy rains caused by climate change may affect the root environment and tree vigor of old-growth trees, conservation policies are expanding in the direction of strengthening soil acidity and moisture management and pest monitoring. Meanwhile, as visitors increase, especially during the autumn foliage season, trends are moving toward reorganizing viewing routes, operating information signs and interpretive programs, and developing local tourism content linked to nearby ecological and historical resources. The local government and conservation organizations are taking the balance between the use of cultural heritage and preservation of its original form as a major task.