The Korean government and companies are launching a large-scale tree-planting project, beginning with planting trees along the Gyeongan Stream in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, with a goal of planting 260,000 trees by 2030, to reduce greenhouse gases and restore ecosystems.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE, Minister Kim Sunghwan) announced that it will hold a “Private Sector Participation Tree-Planting Event to Expand Carbon Sinks” on the morning of March 27 in the Gyeongan Stream area (located in Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si), in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, the Korea Forest Service, and the Korea Environment Conservation Institute. 

This public-private joint event was organized to expand carbon sinks and restore degraded ecosystems in order to achieve the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). It also coincides with the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Natural Environment Conservation Act (effective March 19, 2026). The key provision of this revision is to recognize carbon sequestration and contributions to biodiversity enhancement when companies (the private sector) participate in natural environment restoration.

About 120 people are expected to attend the event, including Minister Kim Sunghwan of the MCEE; Kim Yongkwan, President and Head of Management Strategy for the DS Division at Samsung Electronics; Park Eunsik, Minister of the Korea Forest Service; and Shin Jinsoo, President of the Korea Environment Conservation Institute.  

Following the event, the MCEE and Samsung Electronics plan to carry out a public-private tree-planting project to plant 260,000 trees by 2030, equivalent to more than two trees per Samsung Electronics employee in Korea.

In addition, a riverside ecological restoration project will be carried out across approximately 400,000 m2 in Unhak-dong and Ho-dong, Yongin-si, within the Gyeongan Stream watershed. 

This project will focus not only on tree planting but also on restoring and strengthening ecological functions through measures such as wetland waterway improvement and the removal of invasive species.  

Minister Kim Sunghwan of the MCEE stated, “This tree-planting effort marks a symbolic step in which the government and companies join forces to expand carbon sinks.” He added, “With the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Natural Environment Conservation Act as a turning point, we expect private sector participation in natural environment restoration to become more active.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com