가로수 그늘은 고맙지만…“나무 뿌리가 망가뜨린 집, 사비로 고쳐”

Even though the shade of the trees in Goryosu is appreciated, there are concerns about the extensive root systems damaging buildings and infrastructure. A 55-year-old resident, named 최연수, explained that after summer, the situation turns into a "hell" as the roots continue to spread, requiring constant replacement and maintenance.

Despite numerous complaints, the city's response has only been to replace damaged sidewalks, not addressing the root-related issues. Another resident, 김아무개, noted that fallen leaves from the trees pile up so much in the autumn that it becomes a nuisance. The issue of urban trees colliding with residents' lives is becoming more common as trees planted in planned cities remain for decades.

In Goryosu, there are 145 trees of this age planted between 1995 and 1997. Initially, the city planned to replace trees that caused inconvenience to residents and were unsafe for pedestrians, but now they are only planning to maintain 74 trees and selectively prune 71. The plan is to only prune trees adjacent to roads, such as tree trunks and roots.

However, this approach has faced resistance from residents who have been advocating for a full renovation. Environmental groups and experts visited the area to discuss potential solutions, focusing on how to minimize resident discomfort while preserving the trees. They proposed measures such as root diverters, expanding growth space, and creating green belts to help trees survive while reducing resident inconvenience.

It is crucial to view trees not just as facilities but as living elements of the city that contribute to citizens' well-being. Experts emphasized the need to move away from individual tree removal and instead focus on long-term management strategies. The local government has committed to addressing the challenges of older planned city trees and aims to establish a more sustainable approach for managing trees over 30 years old.