"I Want to Take Photos" vs. "Too Artificial": Cheongju Heart-Shaped Tree Street Sparks Debate [What Do You Think?]

[Financial News] Opinions are divided over the 'heart-shaped tree-lined street' created in downtown Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong Province. Some say the ginkgo trees trimmed into heart shapes offer a unique attraction, while others worry that excessive pruning could affect their growth.
According to Cheongju-si and others on the 27th, 41 ginkgo trees have been trimmed into heart shapes along a roughly 350-meter stretch near the temporary city hall in Sangdang District. The road is known as the 'heart-shaped tree-lined street.'
In March last year, Cheongju-si signed a contract with a landscaping company worth about 14 million won. The trunks and side branches of the ginkgo trees were then pruned so that the tops formed heart shapes.
As the unusual design spread through social networking service, visitors have also been coming to the site to take photos.
The Korea Forest Service (KFS) also recognized the street. It placed second in the 'Top 5 Tree-lined Street Management' contest for local governments nationwide and was selected as an outstanding case. KFS plans to compile the example into a casebook and distribute it so local governments can use it as a reference for tree-lined street creation and management policies.
However, some have also raised concerns that the branches were cut too heavily to create the heart shape.
Some users left positive comments, saying, "The street looks bright and pretty," "It has more character than ordinary street trees," and "I want to go there and take photos."
Others, however, voiced concern over excessive pruning. Reactions included, "The trees look pitiful," "It looks creepy rather than pretty," "Do we really need to cut trees that much just to make them look good to people?" and "It's too artificial."
Experts say excessive pruning can affect tree growth. If leaves and branches are significantly reduced, photosynthesis may not proceed properly, making the trees more vulnerable to pests and diseases and potentially disrupting normal growth.
Cheongju-si says the current level of pruning does not pose a major problem for growth. The city argues that ginkgo trees are relatively tolerant of pruning.
Cheongju-si said that since the street was created, dozens to hundreds of visitors have been coming every weekend. It is also reviewing a plan to trim about 10 more street trees into heart shapes.
[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter