▲ Photo courtesy Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

In order to ensure the conservation and continued maintenance and management of the Gotjawal forest, Jeju is going to purchase 450 hectares of Gotjawal land by 2018. The land will cost 55 billion won in total.On Jan. 15,

Jeju province set up a two-step Gotjawal private land purchase plan, and announced the purchase of Gotjawal forests lying in the Seonheul and Hangyeong areas. This particular procurement will run 5 billion won.

The plan is to promote a stable conservation system to protect Gotjawal's ecological and environmental features, and to promote public interest in the unique forest, especially as it relates to weather changes.

Earlier this year, the first step of the project was taken, when the 352 hectare purchase of privately-owned Gotjawal was finalized, an agreement that began all the way back in 2009. It cost over 26 billion won in total.

Jeju will expand its priority purchasing of Gotjawal areas that have a high conservation value. An official from Jeju province said, "A stable conservation management system for the Gotjawal is to be established by continuing to pursue private Gotjawal land purchases.”