Hackberry Tree of Bukbu-ri, Changwon

In Dongbu Village, Bukbu-ri, on the northern edge of Changwon, a single hackberry tree stands on a small hill above the fields. After it appeared as the "Sodeok-dong hackberry" in the 2022 drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo, people came from all over the country to see it, and on 7 October 2022 it was designated a national Natural Monument. Here you can see a tree thought to be around 500 years old and learn how one village has looked after it for generations.

The village guardian tree

For a very long time this tree has been the village's dangsan namu, a sacred guardian tree believed to protect the community. Every year on the first day of the tenth lunar month, villagers still hold a dangsanje, a ritual offering, beneath it. The fact that this ceremony has continued without a break for some 90 years was recognised as just as important as the tree itself when it was designated. The tree was first listed as a protected tree by Changwon City on 16 July 2015, and after a heritage survey at the end of July 2022, shortly after the drama aired, it was upgraded to Natural Monument status.

How big is it?

• Height: about 16 m
• Girth at chest height: about 6.8 m, so it takes several adults with arms outstretched to reach around it.
• Crown spread: the branches cover a width of about 27 m, which makes it hard to fit the whole tree into one photo from close up.

At the time of designation, only two other old hackberry trees in Korea held Natural Monument status: Hwangmokgeun in Geumnam-ri, Yecheon, and the hackberry of Sudong-ri, Gochang. A drama may have started it, but in the end the tree's size and the village's living tradition earned it third place on that short list.

What to look out for

• The tree and the pavilion: a traditional-style pavilion stands right next to the tree and makes a natural frame for photos. A protective fence surrounds the trunk.
• Village and fields: from the hilltop there is usually a cool breeze and a wide view over the low roofs of the old village and the Daesan plain.
• Dolphin signposts: signs painted with dolphins, the drama heroine's favourite animal, are dotted around the village entrance and lead you up to the hill.
• The drama connection: in episodes 7 and 8, the story of Sodeok-dong residents fighting to save their village unfolds around this very tree.

What kind of tree is a hackberry?

The East Asian hackberry is a large, long-lived tree common in southern Korea and in coastal villages. Because its branches spread so wide, it was traditionally planted at village entrances as a shade tree or a guardian tree. In autumn it bears small fruits that ripen to an orange-brown. The Bukbu-ri tree stands alone on the crest of its hill, so its full shape is clear from every direction. Its designation was announced in August 2022, followed by a 30-day consultation, and confirmed on 7 October; a few days later the village held a celebration to mark its new status.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: 30 minutes to an hour is enough to climb the hill, see the tree and stroll around the village.
• Respect the tree: it is a national Natural Monument, so stay outside the fence and do not touch it. Crowds once caused damage to the tree and left a lot of litter, so please take your rubbish with you.
• Best time: late spring to early autumn, when the tree is in full leaf. If you arrive on the first day of the tenth lunar month while the ritual is under way, watch quietly.
• Getting there: the village lies about 12 km north of central Changwon (Changwon Jungang Station), so driving is by far the easiest option.
• Combine it with: Bongha Village in Gimhae is only a short drive away.