Korea Forest Service
The Korea Forest Service (산림청) is the central administrative agency of the Republic of Korea, established in 1967 and headquartered in Daejeon, responsible for national forest policy, conservation, wildfire response, public recreation, forest welfare education, wood industry regulation, and carbon registry. It serves South Korean citizens, schools, the forestry and wood industry, other government agencies, and international organizations through a portfolio of digital platforms and physical forest facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersDaejeon (대전), South Korea
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Korea Forest Service does
The Korea Forest Service (산림청) is the central administrative agency of the Republic of Korea responsible for national forest policy, management, and protection, established in 1967 and headquartered in Daejeon. It executes the full lifecycle of forest stewardship — conservation, wildfire and disaster response, public recreation, forest welfare, education, wood industry quality control, carbon registry, and international cooperation — through five regional forest bureaus and eleven wholly-owned operating subsidiaries including the Korea National Arboretum, the National Institute of Forest Science, Forest Aviation Headquarters, the Forest Education Center, and the National Recreation Forest Management Office. Its user constituencies span South Korean citizens (recreation, trails, forest welfare programs), schools and youth (forest education), foresters and the wood industry (regulatory compliance, supply data), other central and local government agencies (interagency wildfire and disaster coordination), and international bodies such as FAO, ITTO, UNEP, and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization.
The agency delivers services through a portfolio of dedicated digital platforms: the Forest Trip reservation system (foresttrip.go.kr) for national forest, arboretum, and campsite booking; the Forest Education Portal (edu.forest.go.kr) for program discovery, certification applications, and specialist training across 574+ programs; the Forest Geographic Information System (FGIS) for spatial forest data; the National Wildfire Information System and ICT Wildfire Command System for real-time fire detection and suppression coordination; the Landslide Information System; the Forest Carbon Registry; the Forest Product Distribution Information system for market prices and supply chains; and the Wood Information Service for timber quality standards. Additional public-facing assets include reservation-based access to 19 km of UNESCO royal tomb forest trails managed jointly with Korea Heritage Service, high-utilization sites like Hannam Saryeoni Oreum Forest (~30,000 visitors in 2025), weekly arboretum cultural day programs, and the annual Forest Food Festival at Gwanghwamun Square. The agency has also opened limited forestry public data and run an AI/open-innovation contest to encourage third-party product development on its data assets.
The agency's business model is budget-funded rather than commercially revenue-driven. Primary funding flows through Korean government national budget allocations covering forest management, conservation, wildfire prevention, and public recreation. Ancillary income streams include usage-based fees for recreation facilities and arboretum access, transaction-based revenue from seasonal forest product sales (wild herbs, mushrooms, mountain delicacies) via festival markets and e-commerce partnerships, freemium/unit-priced fees on the Forest Education Portal, and emerging data/AI services provided through public data opening initiatives. Go-to-market is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer reservation platforms, interagency partnerships (Ministry of the Interior and Safety on wildfire response; Korea Heritage Service on royal tomb trails; Korea Forestry Promotion Institute on the Forest Food Festival), event-driven public engagement, international forums (UN Forum on Forests), and outbound cooperation through bilateral projects with countries such as Kyrgyzstan.
Korea Forest Service firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Korea Forest Service
- Legal name
- Korea Forest Service (산림청)
- Website
- https://forest.go.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Korea Forest Service (산림청) is the central administrative agency of the Republic of Korea, established in 1967 and headquartered in Daejeon, responsible for national forest policy, conservation, wildfire response, public recreation, forest welfare education, wood industry regulation, and carbon registry. It serves South Korean citizens, schools, the forestry and wood industry, other government agencies, and international organizations through a portfolio of digital platforms and physical forest facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Korea Forest Service industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Forest Management Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Integrated Forest Health & Fire Management Planning (AFAMAEAK), Timberland GIS, Remote Sensing & Data Analytics (AFAMAKAG), Forest Health & Protection Services (Pest/Disease, Invasive Species) (IMAMAJAF)
Keywords
Where Korea Forest Service is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Daejeon (대전)
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Korea Forest Service business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Budget Allocation: Primary funding through Korean government national budget allocations for forest management, conservation, wildfire prevention, and public recreation services
- Forest Product Sales: Direct sales of seasonal forest products including wild herbs, mushrooms, and other mountain delicacies through festival markets and e-commerce platforms
- Public Service Fees: Fees collected for forest recreation facilities including natural recreation forests, arboretum entry, and forest education programs
- Data Services and Licensing: Public data opening and forestry statistics services; AI and data-driven innovation projects through open innovation contests
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time | Free forest education programs available across Korea |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Paid forest education programs with varying fees |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Korea Forest Service product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Korea Forest Service is a central government agency that administers national forest resources, delivers public forest recreation and education services, operates forest disaster prevention and geographic information systems, and regulates forest industries across the Republic of Korea. Its deliverable offerings include forest recreation reservation services, forest education programs, wildfire risk forecasting and response coordination, and national forest geographic data services.
Product overview
Korea Forest Service operates a portfolio of web-based portals and information systems focused on forest management, public recreation, and environmental education. The core offerings include the Forest Trip reservation platform (숲나들e) for nature recreation bookings and the Forest Education Portal (숲교육포털) for program management. Supporting systems include FGIS for spatial data, wildfire and landslide disaster management systems, the Forest Carbon Registry, and forest product distribution platforms. The service architecture is multi-platform with separate portals for different user constituencies (general public, educators, forest industry, government agencies) rather than a unified product with modules.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 숲교육포털 (Forest Education Portal): Online portal for forest education programs, providing information about forest education services, programs, and certification systems operated by the Korea Forest Service.
- Forest Trip
Products and services
- Forest Trip (forest recreation reservation service) Centralized online reservation platform that enables the general public to book forest recreation accommodations, courses, and programs at Korea Forest Service-managed recreation forests, arboreta, and forest therapy sites.
- Forest Education Portal Public education service providing forest learning content, program bookings, and educator resources for students, teachers, and citizens seeking structured forest education experiences.
- National Wildfire Information System Operational information system supporting wildfire detection, status tracking, and information sharing for national wildfire response coordination.
- Wildfire Risk Forecast Service Public and inter-agency service providing wildfire risk forecasts and risk-level information to support preparedness and response decisions.
- Landslide Information System Information service providing landslide hazard warnings and situational data to the public and partner agencies.
- ICT Wildfire Command System Operational command system supporting wildfire incident command through integrated ICT tools for coordination and decision-making during wildfire response.
- Forest Geographic Information System (FGIS) Authoritative national forest geographic information platform providing spatial data, maps, and related services for agencies, researchers, and the public.
- Forest Carbon Registry Registry service for forest carbon units, supporting carbon inventory, registration, and reporting functions for policy and partner agencies.
- Wood Information Service (Winz) Information service providing wood and forest product market data and analytics for forest industry operators and the public.
- Forest Product Distribution Information System Information service supporting forest product distribution data and traceability for forest industry operators.
- Forest Licensing and Certification (cigarettes, ginseng, and forest products) Statutory licensing and certification services for forest products, including the issuance of stamp duties on cigarettes and ginseng, supporting regulated forest product markets.
- Walk-on-the-Forest and Forest Therapy Programs Public wellness programs delivered through Korea Forest Service-managed recreation forests and arboreta, providing guided forest walking and forest therapy experiences for citizens.
Quantifiable outcome
- UN Global Restoration Model recognition for Uljin wildfire recovery project covering 1,013 hectares
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Korea Forest Service
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Korea Forest Service technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Korea Forest Service partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreKorea Forest Service participates in FAO-led international forest cooperation initiatives, including discussions on the UN Strategic Plan for Forests. The agency co-hosted side events with FAO on sustainable wood use challenges and receives international feedback on forest policy proposals.
- ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization)coreCo-hosted side event with FAO and ITTO at UN Forum on Forests to discuss challenges around sustainable wood use, representing Korea's commitment to international timber sustainability standards.
- UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)coreMet with UNEP representatives to gather international feedback on Korea's proposal for establishing an International Day of Sustainable Wood, supporting global environmental policy coordination.
- Asian Forest Cooperation OrganizationcoreCooperation with Asian Forest Cooperation Organization on managing large-scale forest fires, sharing Korea's expertise in wildfire prevention and response systems across the Asian region.
- Korea Heritage ServicecoreJoint operation of specialized forest trails around UNESCO-listed royal tombs. The seasonal access program (through June 30) balances public demand for nature retreats with strict preservation requirements of sovereign heritage sites.
- Ministry of the Interior and SafetycoreImplementing joint interagency comprehensive wildfire plan with the Ministry to strengthen coordination across multiple government bodies for spring wildfire response during dry weather conditions.
- Korea Forestry Promotion InstituteminorJoint launch of 2026 Forest Food Festival at Gwanghwamun Square, promoting Korean forest products and providing economic support to regional foresters through direct trade and e-commerce.
- Kyrgyzstan Government DelegationminorForest cooperation project discussions with Kyrgyz government delegation, advancing bilateral forest policy exchange and cooperation initiatives.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Korea Forest Service competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- USDA Forest Service: U.S. national forestry agency managing federal forests, wildfire response, and recreation. Most directly comparable to Korea Forest Service as a central government forestry authority with multi-mandate responsibilities including wildfire command, GIS-based forest management, and recreation.
- Forestry Commission (UK): UK's national forestry authority regulating forestry, managing public forests, and advising on timber standards. Comparable to Korea Forest Service in its regulatory, woodland management, and public recreation mandate.
- Swedish Forest Agency: Sweden's national authority for forestry policy, sustainable forest management, and timber regulation. Comparable to Korea Forest Service in regulating timber quality and managing national forest assets.
- Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service: Canada's federal forestry authority focused on forest science, wildfire research, and sustainable forest management. Comparable to Korea Forest Service in combining research, wildfire response, and national-scale forest policy.
- Japan Forestry Agency: Japan's national forestry authority within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Comparable as an East Asian peer agency with similar scope across forest policy, timber industry oversight, and disaster response.
- State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China: China's central forestry and grassland authority overseeing national forest policy, restoration programs, and wildlife conservation. Comparable to Korea Forest Service as a regional peer managing national forest policy and large-scale restoration.
Regional players
- Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (Forestry): New Zealand's forestry directorate within the Ministry for Primary Industries, overseeing plantation forestry, biosecurity, and forest policy. Comparable in regulatory and forest industry oversight scope, though serving a different geography.
Emerging players
- Korea National Park Service: Korean government agency managing national parks and protected natural areas. Comparable to Korea Forest Service as a domestic peer agency handling public nature recreation, trails, and ecosystem stewardship, with overlapping visitor constituencies.
Broad incumbents
- German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Forestry Division): Germany's federal ministry covering forestry as part of a broader agriculture and food portfolio. Comparable as a national-level forestry policy authority, though broader in mandate than Korea Forest Service.
- FAO Forestry Division: UN Food and Agriculture Organization's global forestry division setting international forest policy. Comparable as a policy and cooperation partner that Korea Forest Service actively engages with on sustainable wood and fire management.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Korea Forest Service social profiles
Digital presenceKorea Forest Service compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Korea Forest Service financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Korea Forest Service leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Korea Forest Service subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Korea Forest Service funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Korea Forest Service M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Korea Forest Service
What does Korea Forest Service do?
Korea Forest Service is a central government agency that administers national forest resources, delivers public forest recreation and education services, operates forest disaster prevention and geographic information systems, and regulates forest industries across the Republic of Korea. Its deliverable offerings include forest recreation reservation services, forest education programs, wildfire risk forecasting and response coordination, and national forest geographic data services.
Is Korea Forest Service a public or private company?
Korea Forest Service is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Korea Forest Service founded?
Korea Forest Service was founded in 1967.
Where is Korea Forest Service based?
Korea Forest Service is headquartered in Daejeon (대전), South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Korea Forest Service make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Budget Allocation is the primary driver. The others are forest Product Sales, public Service Fees and data Services and Licensing.
Who are Korea Forest Service's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are USDA Forest Service, Forestry Commission (UK), Swedish Forest Agency, Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service, Japan Forestry Agency and State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China. Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (Forestry) is listed as a regional player. Korea National Park Service is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Forestry Division) and FAO Forestry Division.
Does Korea Forest Service have an API?
No public API is recorded for Korea Forest Service.
What industry is Korea Forest Service in?
Korea Forest Service's product category is Government Forest Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAMAF, Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests), with a secondary code of AFAMAEAK, Integrated Forest Health & Fire Management Planning. Its NAICS code is 1153 and its SIC code is 800.