"Those Poor Squirrels Will Go Hungry"... Resident Takes All 7 Sacks of Acorns and Dries Them on Apartment Walkway

Intensive crackdowns in urban and national parks through November
Penalties range from KRW 50,000 fines to criminal charges

Controversy has erupted online after photos showed large quantities of acorns collected in the mountains spread out to dry in an apartment complex. Critics say the person took far too many acorns, a major food source for wildlife in winter.

A resident dries acorns they gathered in the apartment complex. Screenshot from Threads @ydg0105

On October 26, a photo of acorns piled up along a walkway in an apartment complex was posted on an online community. The person who posted it wrote, "What are the animals in the mountains supposed to eat?" and added, "They spread them out across the apartment complex, and my husband was rubbing them with his sneakers to remove the shells too."

The photos show acorns spread in large quantities over about seven sacks. The amount collected appears substantial even to the naked eye. Online users who saw the photos commented, "Shouldn't they only take as much as they need?" "It looks like they took everything the animals need to eat over the winter," and "That's way too much."

A user who shared photos online uploaded additional images, saying, "There are even more acorns today." Screenshot from Threads/@ydg0105

Acorns are a major food source that wildlife, including squirrels and various bird species, depend on to survive the winter. Excessive acorn gathering in the mountains can reduce the food available to wildlife and affect their survival. Some have also pointed out that it could cause wild animals such as wild boars, unable to find food, to leave the mountains and venture into residential areas or urban centers.

Acorns are the seeds of oak trees and also play an important role in the natural regeneration of forests. Some acorns that fall to the ground sprout and grow into new trees, so repeated large-scale harvesting could also affect the regeneration of oak forests.

Meanwhile, people who gather forest products such as acorns and chestnuts without permission in the fall may face fines or criminal penalties, depending on the location.

Picking fruit from trees in an urban park without permission may result in a KRW 50,000 fine under the Act on Urban Parks, Green Areas, Etc.

Anyone who gathers wild plants without permission in a natural park, including a national park, may face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 30 million. Taking forest products such as acorns or chestnuts without the forest owner's permission may also be subject to penalties. Under the Forest Resources Act, anyone who steals forest products from a forest may face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 50 million.

A squirrel eating acorns in the mountains. Fotolia

Local governments and relevant agencies are also stepping up enforcement as the fall season brings an increase in the gathering of forest products. Gangnam-gu in Seoul will crack down on the unauthorized gathering of acorns, chestnuts, and other items in the areas around Daemosan and Guryongsan through November 15. The district plans to collect any items found and scatter them back in the mountains as food for wildlife, and take action against violations in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

The Korea National Park Service is also deploying staff to national parks across the country through November 30 to crack down on the unauthorized gathering of forest products and other natural resources, as well as entering restricted trails, unauthorized cooking and camping, and smoking. The agency has launched the enforcement effort in response to the increase in fall visitors, with about 10.21 million, or approximately 24%, of the 43.31 million visitors to national parks nationwide last year visiting in October and November.

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