Yoon Young-kyoon

South Korea is taking the initiative in forest welfare, with the aim of maximizing economic value of forests for the public, according to the chief of the Korea Forest Welfare Institute. “The focus of Korea’s forests has transformed over the 40 years from simple afforestation to forest resources to sustainable forest management,” said Yoon Young-kyoon, president of the Korea Forest Welfare Institute, in an interview with The Korea Herald. “Now, the focus is on forest welfare, which means economic, social and emotional support to the public using forests, with the aim of improving the public welfare,” said Yoon who has been working in the forest industry for around 40 years.  He is the first leader of the Korea Forest Welfare Institute set up in April 2016 under the Korea Forest Service. The government agency is aimed at providing forest welfare services, a term coined by Korea.