Cheongju Apgaksu
SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — A ginkgo tree that has stood watch over the city of Cheongju for more than nine centuries is set to become South Korea’s newest natural monument, the Korea Heritage Service announced Wednesday.
The agency said its Natural Heritage Committee has approved the designation of the “Cheongju Apgaksu,” an ancient ginkgo tree located in Cheongju’s Central Park. The tree, estimated to be around 900 years old, rises 23.5 meters high with a trunk circumference of 8.5 meters measured at 1.2 meters above ground.
Cheongju Apgaksu
Despite its age, the tree continues to turn a vivid yellow each autumn, drawing local admiration. It also carries significant historical weight. The Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam, a 15th-century geography text, recounts an episode involving renowned Goryeo scholar-official Yi Saek (1328–1396) during the political upheaval known as the Yi Cho Rebellion.
According to the tale, Yi Saek and more than ten loyal officials were wrongfully imprisoned in Cheongju. When a major flood struck, they escaped danger by climbing the Apgaksu ginkgo. Hearing the account, the king is said to have deemed their survival a sign of their innocence and ordered their release.
Cheongju Apgaksu
The tree appears in multiple historical records and in old maps of Cheongju’s fortress town, underscoring its long-standing presence in the region’s cultural landscape. While 25 ginkgo trees across the country have already been designated natural monuments—including those at Seoul’s Confucian Shrine and Yongmunsa Temple in Yangpyeong—the Cheongju tree is considered uniquely significant.
One expert involved in the review noted that the name “Apgaksu,” a traditional epithet for ginkgo trees, has been passed down specifically in connection with this tree, adding to its distinct cultural value.
The Korea Heritage Service is expected to formally designate the Cheongju Apgaksu as a natural monument in an upcoming government bulletin.
Cheongju Apgaksu
Image credit: Yonhap, City of Cheongju / photonews@koreabizwire.com
