The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) team under AFoCO/040/2023 project conducted a benchmarking and learning visit to several sites in Korea from September 17 to 18, 2025. The mission focused on understanding Korea’s approaches to arboretum establishment, native plant utilization, post-disaster forest restoration, and the transformation of degraded lands into community-centered landscape assets. The visit served as an opportunity to explore models that may be applied to the development of native plants and restoration sites in the Philippines.
Korea National Arboretum for Native Plants (KOAGI): Native plant conservation and operational model
The first destination was the Korea National Arboretum for Native Plants, operated by the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute (KOAGI) and located in the Baekdudaegan mountain range near Odaesan. The arboretum conserves endangered, rare, and endemic species of Korea and serves as a national platform for native plant research and education. Originally privately operated, it was donated to the Korea Forest Service in 2021 and converted into a national arboretum.
The EDC team met with Director Ko Kyung-chan to discuss the institution’s development history, planning strategy, and operational framework. Director Ko highlighted how governance, long-term planning, and strong institutional partnerships contributed to the arboretum’s success. He also expressed willingness to cooperate and provide technical guidance to support arboretum and garden development in the Philippines.
Following the discussion, the team toured the key thematic gardens — including the Rare Plant Garden, Wild Vegetable Garden, Forest Bookshelf, Our Home Garden, and Secret Garden — under the guidance of Junior Manager Lee Jae-Hyeon. Throughout the tour, he provided detailed explanations on the ecological roles, cultural significance, and seasonal characteristics of Korean native plants, illustrating how thematic garden design can connect species conservation with visitor engagement.
Through this guided tour, the team gained practical insights into how thematic gardens can integrate species conservation, education, and public engagement — an approach that can be applied to designing native plant arboreta and interpretive gardens under the AFoCO/040/2023 project.
At the conclusion of the visit, the EDC team expressed appreciation for the arboretum’s openness in sharing its operational knowledge. Director Ko further expressed his willingness to collaborate and provide technical consultation to support the development of arboreta and gardens in the Philippines.
Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Museum: Learning from systematic documentation
The second site was the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Museum, home to the UNESCO-registered historical archives. During the visit, the team learned how the Annals were compiled, safeguarded, and systematically preserved throughout history, and gained an appreciation for their historical and cultural significance as a Memory of the World. The museum demonstrated a sophisticated archival system that ensures long-term preservation — including documentation processes, record classification, and controlled storage environments.
This unexpected learning experience offered valuable insights into how structured documentation can support the sustainability of forest restoration initiatives. The team reflected on how the principles used in safeguarding the Annals — meticulous recordkeeping, knowledge transfer, and systematic management — could be adapted to track restoration activities, native species propagation, and the dissemination of technical knowledge under the AFoCO/040/2023 project in the Philippines.
Through this visit, the team was able to combine technical learning with cultural immersion, reinforcing the importance of knowledge management not only in historical preservation but also in modern restoration efforts.
Forest Fire Restoration Site in Donghae City: Evidence-based restoration
The third site visited was the forest fire restoration area in Donghae City, Gangwon Province. The team was welcomed by Mr. Kim Jeong-hwang, Director of the Dongbu Regional Forest Service, and Mr. Jeong In-hwa, Officer of the Greenery Division at Donghae City Hall.
This visit aimed to observe the areas affected by the forest fire that originated in Okgye-myeon, Gangneung City, in March 2022 and spread to Donghae City, as well as to review the reforestation plans and achievements implemented for restoration. The team examined the tree species used for reforestation and the current status of landscape forest creation, confirming that the restored forests not only serve to preserve the landscape but are also being developed into spaces for citizen recreation and forest tourism.
Through this visit, the EDC team gained insights into Korea’s forest restoration process and compared it with restoration practices in the Philippines. The discussions also highlighted the importance of collaboration among central and local governments, private landowners, and local communities in achieving successful restoration outcomes. Additionally, the team reviewed how the “right tree in the right place” principle and certified high-quality seedlings can enhance the quality and survival rate of planted trees.
Mureung Byeolyucheonji: From abandoned mine to ecological and cultural asset
The final site visited was the Mureung Byeolyucheonji (Stone Craft Themed Garden), a successful example of transforming an abandoned mine into a cultural and ecological space. Formerly a limestone quarry operated by Ssangyong C&E for about 40 years since 1968, the site was repurposed into a cultural regeneration-themed park through the cooperation of Donghae City and the national government after mining activities ceased. It officially opened to the public in November 2021 and has since become a popular tourist destination, providing social and economic benefits to both the city government and the local community.
The EDC team took note of how the rehabilitation and reuse of post-industrial facilities were effectively linked to local development. In particular, the process by which Donghae City introduced eco-friendly policies and converted the site into a tourist attraction through public–private collaboration demonstrated the potential for public–private partnerships in the field of forest restoration, offering valuable insights for possible integration into national policy and technical platforms.
Through this visit, the team recognized the importance of expanding restoration initiatives beyond environmental recovery to include community participation and economic value creation. The lessons learned from this experience will help identify ways to integrate similar regeneration and sustainability models into future forest restoration projects in the Philippines.
Contributed by Sungmin Kim, Assistant Program Officer; and Nolie Molina, 2025 Fellowship Official from the Philippines