Dong-gu Council Member Hong Duseok Proposes Ordinance to Support Hazardous Tree Removal

Funding to Remove Hazardous Trees on Vulnerable Households' Private Properties

A policy framework has been introduced to use local government funds to maintain or cover the removal costs of hazardous old trees and branches in residential areas that have gone unmanaged because they are on private property.

Hong Duseok, a Dong-gu council member in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. Provided by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Dong-gu Council.

The Dong-gu Council of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City said that an ordinance bill to support the removal of hazardous trees around homes in Dong-gu, sponsored by council member Hong Duseok (Chungjang-dong, Dongmyeong-dong, Gyerim 1-dong, Gyerim 2-dong, Sansu 1-dong and Sansu 2-dong), passed review by the Social and Urban Affairs Committee at the 329th extraordinary session held on October 29.

The ordinance bill was drafted to prevent accidents in which large trees in residential yards or near walls fall and cause injury or property damage, and to ease the financial burden on vulnerable households that have left hazardous trees unattended because tree removal can cost several million won.

Eligible applicants include single-family homes occupied by recipients of basic livelihood benefits or near-poor households, as well as welfare facilities for older adults and children, such as senior centers. Older buildings that are more than 20 years past completion (issuance of approval for use) are also eligible, subject to district review, if they are small apartment buildings with fewer than 20 households and no management body.

Trees eligible for maintenance must have a trunk diameter of at least 20 cm measured at a height of 1.2 m above ground, and either pose a high risk of falling or dropping branches, or risk damaging walls, retaining structures or power lines through their roots or trunks. The work covered ranges from basic pruning to root cutting, full tree removal and waste disposal.

The district will cover 100% of removal costs for trees at homes of vulnerable households and welfare facilities, as well as trees that could cause secondary damage to nearby roads or homes. For other eligible properties, it will cover 80% of the total cost, with residents' out-of-pocket contributions capped at 300,000 won to ease their burden.

The application process has also been significantly simplified for residents' convenience. Applications can be submitted through the administrative welfare center in the applicant's neighborhood. For older adults and vulnerable residents who have difficulty attaching photos or a location map, an on-site inspection by a responsible public official may be used instead. The district office will notify applicants of their eligibility for support within 30 days of receiving an application. If requests exceed the available budget, funding will be allocated by priority based on an assessment of safety risks.

Council member Hong Duseok said, "Even a tree on private property can become a deadly hazard to neighbors and passersby if it falls and blocks an alley. I will do my utmost to secure funding for the program during the review of next year's main budget in November, so that homes of vulnerable households that have been unable to address known risks because of financial hardship can be prioritized for maintenance."

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