Cultural Gallery Issues Public Apology Over Historic Tree Treatment
A cultural gallery located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, has issued a formal apology following allegations that it injected pesticide into a Ginkgo tree estimated to be over 100 years old. The incident has sparked significant community concern.
Gallery Acknowledges Wrongdoing and Expresses Regret
On the first of the month, the gallery posted a public notice on its website titled ‘We Apologize.’ The statement read, “We deeply apologize for causing concern to the residents of Buam-dong and all who cherish the gallery, regarding the matter of the Ginkgo tree.”
Gallery officials explained that for more than a decade, they had recognized the need to manage evergreen trees and Ginkgo trees planted on both sides of the gallery’s entrance due to resident safety concerns. While evergreen trees within the gallery’s premises were managed, the Ginkgo tree, situated on private property, could not be addressed through the gallery’s direct actions.
Long-Standing Issues Led to Drastic Measures
The gallery detailed that the mature Ginkgo tree had been a source of persistent complaints from residents concerning falling leaves and unpleasant odors. Furthermore, the tree’s roots were reportedly causing structural damage to the gallery’s foundation.
Attempts to resolve the situation with the tree’s owners were made in 2018 and again in 2025, but no mutually agreeable solution was found, according to gallery representatives. This prolonged impasse, they stated, prevented any improvement in the situation.
Discovery and Community Reaction
The controversy came to light when residents noticed an unusual and rapid shedding of the tree’s leaves. Their suspicions led them to review CCTV footage, which reportedly captured gallery personnel injecting pesticide into the Ginkgo tree.
According to residents, on the morning of April 22nd, a gallery representative was filmed drilling holes into the trunk of the Ginkgo tree outside the main entrance and injecting a substance. Residents subsequently contacted the police and visited the gallery on April 22nd, at which point gallery representatives admitted to administering pesticide to the tree.
Commitment to Resolution and Future Actions
Gallery officials emphasized their approach to the issue was multifaceted, considering the seriousness of the situation. They have pledged to exert their utmost effort and take necessary measures to restore the Ginkgo tree and comprehensively improve the related circumstances.
