”If you collect 1kg in the mountains, you can get 1.6 million won”... People in their 20s go into the mountains to earn money (Korea)

The price of domestically produced matsutake mushrooms has soared to an all-time high. This spring, large-scale forest fires, extreme heat, and heavy rains across the country have significantly hampered the harvest, and with the mid-autumn celebration (Chuseok) approaching, the price of domestically produced matsutake mushrooms has soared to an all-time high.
The price has skyrocketed due to the increased demand. According to the Central Forestry Association on the 5th, as of October 1st, the price of first-grade matsutake mushrooms from Yangyang, Gangwon was 1,451,100 won per kilogram.
The first grade was traded for 1,000 won (approximately 151,930 yen), and the second grade was traded for 759,000 won (approximately 79,470 yen).
On the 3rd, it was sold for 1,611,200 won (approximately 168,690 yen) per kg, setting a new record.
Matsutake mushrooms from Yangyang are known for their lower water content, firm texture, and rich aroma compared to mushrooms from other regions. With the harvesting period limited and mid-autumn celebrations approaching, demand is on the rise.
The price of matsutake mushrooms, which are more abundant than matsutake mushrooms, has also risen to 145,100 won (approximately 15,190 yen) per kilogram in the Hongcheon region of Gangwon-do.
The price of second-grade mushrooms was 106,300 won (11,130 yen), which was higher than the previous year. With the price of mushrooms rising like this, people are going to go into the mountains to pick them themselves.
The number of users is also increasing. On one social networking site, an open chat room related to medicinal herbs and mushrooms is being run, with around 200 users. A person involved said, "Before that, it was mainly used by people in their 40s and 50s, but now
"Recently, there are quite a few people in their 30s, and people in their 20s often participate," he said. However, collecting forest products such as matsutake mushrooms and koucho mushrooms without permission from the owner is illegal.
Most of the areas where forestry is conducted are national forests, and permission from the Forestry Agency is required. According to Article 73 of the current Forest Resources Development and Management Act, harvesting forest products without permission can result in a maximum fine of
The punishment is up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won (approximately 5,235,000 yen). The Korea Forest Service established restricted access areas in the forestry harvest season from the 15th to the 31st of last month.
The government also plans to use drone surveillance teams and unmanned surveillance cameras to crack down on unauthorized entry into the mountains, illegal harvesting, forest damage, and illegal trade.
A Forestry Agency official said, "Resources cannot be extracted without permission, not only in national forests but also in private forests. If you harm the ecosystem or extract protected species, the penalties will be even stronger.
Special care needs to be taken," he said.