"Up to 5 Million Won a Month, No Retirement Age: What Is the 'Second Career' Exploding in Popularity Among the 50s and 60s After Retirement?"

Tree Care Specialists for Apartment Complexes and Street Trees
Intense Competition: Fewer Than 1 in 4 Candidates Pass the Final Stage

As the "Tree Doctor" certification exam gains rapid popularity among middle-aged adults seeking a new career after retirement, the intense competition has resulted in a final pass rate remaining in the 23% range.

An arborist diagnosing the condition of a tree in an apartment complex near Geomam Station. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Korea Institute for Forest Disaster Safety Technology on September 15, a total of 708 candidates took the second round of the 12th Tree Doctor certification exam recently. Of these, 163 candidates passed, recording a pass rate of 23%. With this latest cohort added, the cumulative number of certified Tree Doctors since the system was introduced in 2018 has now reached 1,900.

The 50s and 60s generation: Tree Doctor Emerges as a 'Second Career'...What about the Salary?

The Tree Doctor certification system was introduced to address issues stemming from excessive pesticide use and inadequate tree care by non-experts. Tree Doctors are professional tree care specialists who diagnose and prescribe treatments for the causes of tree damage in apartment complexes, parks, schools, and along streets, while also working to prevent and treat diseases, pests, and abnormal growth conditions.

According to the Forest Protection Act, the control and treatment of trees in everyday living areas must be carried out exclusively through tree clinics staffed with certified Tree Doctors or tree treatment technicians. Recently, revisions to the relevant law have allowed the Korea Forest Service to outsource the regular inspection of protected trees to such clinics, significantly expanding the scope of their role.

Conditions in the job market are also noteworthy. According to a job posting on Worknet 24 this year, monthly salaries ranged from 2.8 million to over 3.2 million won, while some positions offered between 3 million and 5 million won per month or annual salaries of 45 million to 47 million won. However, actual wages can vary depending on a person's experience, workplace conditions, and assigned duties. For public projects, the standard daily wage for Tree Doctors is approximately 326,359 won.

A High Barrier to Entry: Exam Eligibility and Required Education

Amid this trend, forest- and tree-related certifications have become increasingly popular among middle-aged adults preparing for the next chapter in life. Of the holders of relevant national technical qualifications, 55.9% are in their 50s or older, and the employment rate for those in their 60s or older is 69.6%. However, the gateway remains narrow despite this high popularity. Last year, the pass rate for the first round was 26.2%, and this year's second round saw a final pass rate of only 23.0%, meaning fewer than 1 in 4 candidates succeeded.

Subjects required to take the Tree Doctor Qualification Exam. Tree Care Specialist website

Candidates cannot take the exam immediately. They must either have a relevant academic background or practical experience, or hold certifications as an engineer or technician in forestry, landscaping, or plant protection. Only those who complete 150 hours of training at a designated Tree Doctor training institution are eligible to take the exam. Experts advise that after employment, not only the possession of a license but also on-site diagnostic and prescription experience is a key factor in determining compensation.

Detailed information regarding the certification exam, including results, can be found on the Tree Care Specialist website. Successful candidates can apply online for the certificate through the same website and will receive it within 15 days of the application date. In addition, the institute plans to announce the implementation schedule for the 2027 Tree Doctor certification exam via its website on December 1. For further exam-related inquiries, guidance is available through the Korea Institute for Forest Disaster Safety Technology customer service center.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.