Korea Forest Service opens free state timber to research and wooden buildings

The Korea Forest Service said Friday it has revised an enforcement rule allowing state agencies and public institutions in the forestry sector to receive national forest products free of charge for research and development or to encourage wooden construction.

The change follows an amendment to the Act on the Management and Administration of National Forests, which was promulgated on April 21 and takes effect Oct. 22. The revised rule was issued as Ordinance No. 796 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Applicants for a free transfer must submit a national forest product use plan along with their application to the head of the relevant agency.

The forest service has framed wider use of domestic timber and more wooden building as a new industrial environment, and has been pursuing discussions among industry, academia and government on the shift. Under a separate agreement with South Chungcheong Province on using trees damaged by pine wilt disease, the two sides listed cooperation on promoting wooden construction in provincial public buildings and on introducing the damaged timber into those projects.

The revision also widens the reference in Article 17-1 of the rule from "special city" to "special city or integrated special city, excluding cities and counties." Other amendments correct cross-references in Article 31 and in an attached form to cover both Article 29-1-3 and Article 29-1-4 of the act.

The broader act amendment was introduced to provide a legal basis for national forest products to be supplied to state agencies and public institutions in the forestry sector, following scientific and technological advances in the field.