When a beloved tree began withering away, locals suspected a killer in their midst
A neighbourhood’s fight to save a cherished ginkgo pits them against an unlikely foe.
Every summer, Seoul flourishes under humid skies, turning a deep green. However, this year, one tree in the Buam-dong neighbourhood, north of Seoul, was visibly suffering. Jung, a local resident, noticed that the ginkgo tree had been losing leaves even though it was not the typical time for leaves to fall. The tree, affectionately known as "Grandpa Ginkgo," had been present for over a century and was a beloved symbol for the community.
When the leaves began to rot around the tree, Jung and her neighbors formed a group of amateur detectives to investigate the issue. They were surprised to find white plastic funnels protruding from beneath the tree's trunk. Initially, they thought these funnels were delivering nutrients, but their suspicions grew when they discovered two men wearing white gloves, crouching near the tree with a drill.
The group learned that the Whanki Museum, located nearby, had sought permission to remove the tree due to what they claimed was root strain on their wall. The residents believed the museum might have been responsible for installing the herbicide-laden funnels. They confronted the museum, and while an employee admitted to their actions, the museum has neither confirmed nor denied these allegations.
The residents are demanding transparency from the museum regarding the substance used in the funnels and have filed a police report against the museum's director.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
