The Korea Forest Service said on the 22nd that it will carry out a "spring crackdown on illegal activities in forests" through the end of May.
The joint crackdown with regional forest services, national forest management offices, and local governments will focus on habitual illegal gathering of forest products by hiking groups.
The Korea Forest Service will deploy forest judicial police to the field and use drones to conduct an all-out crackdown. If violations are detected, even minor offenses will face strict action under a zero-tolerance policy.
According to the Korea Forest Service, those caught stealing or illegally gathering forest products without the forest owner's permission may face up to five years in prison or fines of up to 50 million won under the Act on the Creation and Management of Forest Resources.
Those who light fires in forests or adjacent areas face fines of up to 2 million won; smoking or discarding cigarette butts in the mountains carries fines of up to 700,000 won; and entering restricted mountain areas without permission carries fines of up to 200,000 won.
Park Young-hwan, head of the Forest Environment Protection Division at the Korea Forest Service, said, "Carelessly picking wild greens can lead to severe punishment," and asked for cooperation to protect forests.