Seo Jang-hoon praises "true patriot"..Park Jeong-hee's generous donation of inherited '820,000 pyeong mountain' [Millionaire]

*This content was translated by AI.

'The Millionaire Next Door' spotlighted the life of Park Jeong-hee, a forest management expert.

In an episode of EBS's "Seo Jang-hoon's The Millionaire Next Door" broadcast on the 19th, Park Jeong-hee's unique life philosophy as a fourth-generation forest manager who cultivates forests and shares their value with people was revealed. Located in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, Park's mountain was designated as one of Korea's Top 100 Premium Forests in 2023, and the following year, in 2024, it was honored as a "Distinguished Forest Family" for its contributions to generations of forest cultivation. Spanning approximately 820,000 pyeong, the mountain boasts an overwhelming scale comparable to the area of Yeouido. Through the broadcast, Park Jeong-hee stated, "Everything in the forest is a resource," vividly introducing how the forest produces not only trees but also various food sources such as wild ginseng, wild yam, and pine nuts. Seo Jang-hoon and Jang Ye-won were visibly surprised upon hearing that forest products command high prices, with one bundle of wild yam (3.75 kg) priced at 450,000 won and a set of wild ginseng (7–8 pieces) ranging from 400,000 to 500,000 won.

Additionally, the broadcast revealed for the first time Park Jeong-hee's meticulously maintained outdoor camping site spanning 6,000 pyeong over several decades. Opened in 2006, this space offers a natural retreat nestled within dense forests and is recognized as a healing destination where visitors can fully enjoy the charm of the woods. Adding to the experience was a "Forest Banquet," arranged at the invitation of one camper. The menu featured dishes such as wild yam alio olio pasta made from yams harvested on Park's mountain, beef jerky wraps with wild ginseng, and schisandra tea infused with pine nuts. Even Seo Jang-hoon, known for his discerning palate, could not stop eating when faced with these unique menus rarely found in urban areas. Particularly, as Seo Jang-hoon served food to others himself, exclamations of "You're so sweet" erupted spontaneously. When Seo Jang-hoon smiled shyly, Jang Ye-won joked, "You become sweet only when the camera is on," lightening the mood with humor.

Originally a public official, Park Jeong-hee entered forest management at age 38 after his father passed away unexpectedly in an accident, carrying forward his father's wishes. Although he suddenly took charge of 820,000 pyeong of mountain land overnight, having grown up accompanying his father and learning forest management through hands-on experience since childhood, he naturally chose the path of protecting the forest. When asked why he refuses to sell the mountain, Park Jeong-hee firmly replied, "The mountain inherited from our ancestors is not an economic issue but a matter of preserving value," adding, "It is an obligation to pass on what has been inherited." Currently, his son also participates in forest management, continuing the family legacy into the fifth generation. When asked how he would react if his son decided to sell the mountain after inheriting it, Park stated, "If my descendants wish to manage the mountain in new ways, I would not want to restrict them. Once passed on, it becomes their responsibility." He thus expressed his conviction regarding intergenerational forest management.

However, Park Jeong-hee's approach to protecting the mountains goes beyond mere conservation. Instead of charging rent, he lends land to aspiring foresters under the condition of receiving one-tenth of their harvest. If there is no harvest, he does not collect even that portion, making the arrangement effectively free of charge. Moreover, he personally funds lectures on forest management held across the country and actively works to cultivate future generations of foresters. To date, he has trained 48 forestry successors. Explaining why he freely shares mountains with high economic potential through diverse forest products and paid leases, Park Jeong-hee said, "For forests to fulfill their functions fully, human hands are needed." He further noted, "If we overlook the value of resources and productivity beyond the environmental functions of forests, it is equivalent to losing one-third of Korea's national territory." In essence, he emphasized that cultivating and utilizing forests enhances the value of the nation's land. Upon hearing this, Seo Jang-hoon praised Park as a "true patriot" simply for managing the forest well.

Meanwhile, "Seo Jang-hoon's The Millionaire Next Door" will be absent from its regular schedule on August 26 due to its inclusion in the 23rd EBS International Documentary Film Festival (EIDF) lineup and will resume normal broadcasting at 9:55 p.m. on September 2, one week later.

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*This content was translated by AI.