A centuries-old ginkgo tree in Buam-dong, a residential neighborhood in northern Seoul, began showing signs of distress during the summer season, with residents observing unusual leaf loss and deterioration. The tree, believed by locals to have stood in its location for over a century, holds significant sentimental value to the community members who pass by it daily. Concerned residents mobilized to investigate the cause of the tree’s declining health, discovering white plastic funnels positioned around its base and security camera footage showing two individuals in white gloves working at the tree’s base in late April.
The residents’ suspicions led them to connect the tree’s deterioration to a nearby institution. The Whanki Museum, located inches from the ginkgo, had previously requested permission from area property owners to remove the tree, citing structural damage to its outer brick wall caused by the tree’s root system. Arborists who examined the tree concurred with residents’ theory that herbicide poisoning may have caused the damage. The community members alleged that museum staff had applied chemical compounds through the discovered funnels as a means to eliminate the tree without public acknowledgment.
The museum has not publicly confirmed or denied involvement in the matter. In a May statement, the institution asserted that its compound wall faced deterioration due to the ginkgo’s roots and claimed to have contacted over 40 property owners seeking solutions before taking unspecified action. However, a local council inspection conducted the previous year found no significant connection between the tree and wall damage. Police have launched an investigation into the matter following a report filed against the museum’s director, though law enforcement declined to release additional details to media inquiries.
The situation presents notable irony given the museum’s stated purpose. Established in 1992, the institution honors Kim Whanki, a renowned abstract artist often called the “Picasso of Korea,” whose work was deeply influenced by natural elements including trees. In Korean culture, ginkgo trees symbolize longevity and resilience, making the alleged attack on this particular specimen particularly contentious within the community that depends on formal investigation outcomes to determine next steps for the tree’s treatment and preservation.
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