Sun You-Jeong
Department of Science, Technology, and Culture
This research aims to establish that Korea’s reforestation was successful owing to the driving force of former president Park Chung-Hee (1961-1979) and the scientific researches conducted by scientist Hyun Sin-Kyu.
The xPopulus albaglandulosa hybrid that was developed by Hyun contributed greatly to the completion of the reforestation efforts undertaken in Korea. This poplar species has been developed by the hybridization of P. alba and P. glandulosa by employing forest tree breeding technology, and unlike general poplars, it grows rapidly even on barren soil or hills. Such characteristics of the xPopulus albaglandulosa hybrid captured the interest of the Park Chung-Hee government.
The
Park Chung-Hee government set up the 1st 10-year National Greening Project in
1973 and undertook reforestation efforts on a massive scale. The project aimed to
reforest the entire country within 10 years by using government authority to garner
the participation of all citizens. In order to implement the project speedily
and effectively, the government selected four kinds of trees, including xPopulus
albaglandulosa, and
encouraged the planting of mainly these varieties. Since xPopulus
albaglandulosa grows rapidly and is easier to breed than the other three varieties,
their proliferation was the greatest, which increased the rate of reforestation
efforts. In recognition of the unprecedented success of the reforestation
efforts, president Park rechristened it as ‘Hyun sasi-namu (Hyun’s
xPopulus albaglandulosa)’, in honor of Hyun. The new name signified the president’s
confidence in the country’s reformation efforts and accelerated the pace of the
reforestation project.
Owing
to the strong efforts by the government to enlist citizen participation as well
as the active role played by Hyun, the forest conservation and reforestation
project was completed four years earlier than the expected completion target. In
sum, Korea’s reforestation in the 1970s can be remembered
as a great success of the collaboration between the Park Chung-Hee government and
the scientific product called xPopulus albaglandulosa.
Keywords: xPopulus albaglandulosa,
forest tree breeding, national greening project, reforestation, Park Chung-Hee,
Hyun Sin-Kyu