Over 1,000 people have taken a tree into their embrace.

On March 21, the International Day of Forests, 1,226 people hugged a forest of trees for more than three minutes at the Korea National Arboretum in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province). It was part of the arboretum's “Tree Hug” event.

Participants ranged from students in groups to children struggling to wrap their small arms and hands around the tree trunks.

“I joined in with this event to make sure we're all aware of the value of trees, which we usually just take for granted,” said one student among the 1,226 participants in the event. “I feel at ease and my mind is at peace, as I directly touch and feel these trees and nature.”



This tree-hugging event stems from the “Chipko Movement,” a movement in which a community in Gopeshwar, in northern India, hugged trees on March 23, 1973, to protest against a sporting goods manufacturer attempting to cut down the trees to make tennis rackets. The Hindi word “chipko” means “hugging.”

“We organized this event to mark the International Day of Forests and also to raise public awareness of the upcoming Arbor Day on April 5, which marks its 70th anniversary this year,” said Minister Shin Won-sop of the Korea Forest Service.

By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: the Korea Forest Service
jiae5853@korea.kr