Pohang City and Forest Service Intensify Aerial Spraying to Curb Pine Wilt Disease Spread

The joint inspection comes as forestry authorities ramp up targeted interventions to protect vulnerable timber stands from the destructive wood-boring beetle vectors responsible for spreading the pathogen. Officials evaluated manned aerial spraying programs, drone applications, and preventive stem injections deployed across heavily impacted forest zones in the region.

Targeted Aerial Spraying in Pohang’s Frontline Forest Zones

According to reports from Daum News, the inspection group visited the manned aerial spraying site in Tapjeong-ri, Gibuk-myeon, on August 13. Between June 17 and August 13, local authorities carried out three rounds of chemical applications using manned helicopters across an 80-hectare tract of pine forest in Gibuk-myeon, following a regional pest control consultation held in June with local experts and residents.

The aerial operations are specifically designed to suppress pine wilt disease within Gibuk-myeon and prevent the pathogen from migrating toward neighboring Jukjang-myeon. Municipal officials noted that Gibuk-myeon functions as a critical “frontline” zone where localized pest density has begun to decrease, making intensive management essential to shield adjacent pine and pine-mushroom production areas from contagion.

Multipronged Defense: Drones, Tree Injections, and Containment Strategy

Pohang city administration officials explained that large-scale control efforts faced significant challenges following the suspension of manned aerial spraying in 2023, which allowed vector species such as the Japanese pine sawyer beetle to expand their footprint. To counteract this, municipal authorities have adopted a tailored, mixed-method strategy based on the conservation value and hazard level of specific forest tracts.

Following the aerial review, participants traveled to the Seosup forest area in Gigye-myeon to observe complementary drone-based spraying and preventive tree injection treatments. According to coverage by International i-Journal, Gigye-myeon continues to experience severe pine wilt damage, necessitating systematic, prevention-focused interventions to safeguard critical village woodlands.

During the field briefings, Mayor Park Yong-seon emphasized the severity of the outbreak, stating that the rate of pathogen spread has at times outpaced active containment measures. To bring the infestation down to manageable levels, the city is deploying all available efficient control methods, combining broad aerial applications with targeted ground protections for residential green spaces and roadside hazard trees.

“We must approach pine wilt disease as a national disaster capable of threatening the lives and property of our citizens,” Mayor Park stated, according to the International i-Journal report. He called for continued cooperation between municipal bodies, specialized research institutions, and local communities to overcome the forestry crisis.