The Korean fir tree, which was introduced to the world in 1920 by British botanist Wilson under the name 'Abies Koreana', is a coniferous tree species that grows on the Korean Peninsula, especially on Mt. Halla on Jeju Island. The name of the fir tree comes from the Jeju dialect, 'kusalnang'. 'Kusal' means sea urchin, and 'nang' means tree. It is said that Jeju Islanders called the fir tree 'kusalnang' in the past because the leaves of the fir tree looked like sea urchin thorns. As the name suggests, the fir tree has linear leaves that grow in whorls on its branches or trunks. The needle-shaped leaves are green all year round, and the flowers that bloom in May and June are said to have various colors, such as red, yellow, and pink. The fir tree, once the world's most beloved Christmas tree, is now endangered. Climate change is the cause, and it is said that the lack of water due to environmental changes has caused the fir trees to die in groups. Although it was designated as an internationally endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2013 and is protected, it is expected that continued efforts by individuals and groups will be important in the future to protect the fir tree, which is a species unique to the Korean Peninsula.
