The Korea Forest Service’s National Institute of Forest Science conducted practical training in collaboration with Seoul’s Natural Ecology Division on June 26. The training was aimed at local government officials responsible for pest control, focusing on the application of a genetic diagnostic kit for pine wilt disease.
This training expands the scope of traditional methods centered on specialized institutions, allowing local government personnel to conduct diagnoses directly. Seoul is the first local government in the nation to receive this training, aimed at enhancing on-site response and pest control capabilities.
Pine wilt disease first appeared in Seoul’s Nowon District in 2007, with additional cases in Yongsan and Jungnang Districts in 2015 and 2016. Although the city was later declared a clean area, new occurrences in Seocho District in 2023 and Nowon District in 2024 highlighted the importance of precise inspection.
The diagnostic kit, jointly developed by the National Institute of Forest Science and Koscience Co., Ltd., can detect the presence of the pine wilt disease nematode within approximately 30 minutes. It features high sensitivity technology capable of detecting even the DNA of a single pine nematode with over 94% accuracy.
Son Jeong-ah, a researcher at the National Institute of Forest Science, stated, “Utilizing the genetic diagnostic kit for pine wilt disease in the field will ensure rapid inspection and control efforts to prevent the spread of damage. We will continue to cooperate closely to enable Seoul to swiftly return to a clean area.”