“Forests, a public asset for all” ... Kim Jong-nam takes office as fourth president of the Korea Forest Welfare Institute

[Financial News] Kim Jong-nam, the fourth president of the Korea Forest Welfare Institute, held an inauguration ceremony on the 6th and officially took office.
The new president, Kim, said at the inauguration ceremony held that day in the institute’s main conference room in Gwanjeo-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, “Forests are a public asset that enriches the lives of all citizens.” Kim added, “I will expand the value of forest welfare so that everyone—from children to older adults, and residents of both cities and regional communities—can enjoy health and happiness through forests.”
The inaugural address identified inclusive forest welfare, along with nurturing the private-sector ecosystem and fostering mutually beneficial relationships with local communities, as key priorities.
Kim said, “I will establish a robust support system so that private-sector forest-welfare professionals can develop their expertise and competitiveness and continue to grow.” Kim added, “I will strengthen collaboration with local communities and relevant institutions to provide forest-welfare services that bring together local nature and culture and enrich residents’ lives.” Kim also expressed the ambition to “become an institution loved by the public, grounded in safety and trust, and open new horizons in forest welfare through innovation that looks to the future.”
Originally from Boeun, North Chungcheong Province, Kim graduated from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Chungnam National University and earned a master’s degree in political science and public administration and a doctorate in civil society studies from its graduate school. A civil-society expert, Kim has served as secretary-general of KFEM and as a public livelihood policy adviser to Daejeon Metropolitan City, among other roles. Kim is regarded as having pioneered ecological and social approaches to forest policy, including through service since 2018 on the Korea Forest Service (KFS) Green Fund Management Deliberation Committee.
Given Kim’s extensive experience in environmental and civil-society fields, Kim’s expertise is expected to help expand forest-therapy programs for vulnerable groups and deliver ecological welfare services without discrimination. The policy direction of diversifying providers of forest-welfare services from the public to the private sector is also expected to gain momentum.

[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter