Abstract
Tree hospitals have a relatively short history in Korea, since the first tree hospital was established in 1976. Nowadays 42 are counted as kinds of tree hospitals, that is, 12 belongs in the public, 19 in the private, and 11 in the sections of landscape gardening firms. These tree hospitals have not been under any government regulation until May 31, 2003. However, after June 1, 2003, every tree (Namoo) hospital with its sign is demanded by the regulation to employ at least one tree doctor qualified in tree health. And it is expected that, this kind of regulation will substantially improve the quality of tree hospitals in Korea in the future. Besides Korea Forest Service, Korea Culture Service requires private companies to employ one or more specialists qualified in tree health for the care of old and/or preserved trees e.g., those desingated as natural monuments. For the purpose to provide well-qualified tree doctors to tree hospitals, it is urgently demanded to educate peoples working on tree health in the field of landscape gardening.
