An Ark for Trees
On the coast of the Taean Peninsula, the Chollipo Arboretum holds one of the world's most significant collections of magnolias. It was established by Carl Ferris Miller, a former U.S. naval intelligence officer who arrived in Korea in 1945, became a naturalized citizen in 1979, and adopted the Korean name Min Pyong-gal. Miller purchased the first plot of barren coastal land in 1962 and began planting in earnest around 1970, transforming the area into a 58-hectare botanical sanctuary. Today, the arboretum contains over 16,800 different plant taxa.
The magnolia collection is significant, with over 400 species. The International Magnolia Society has recognized Chollipo as a "Magnolia garden of excellence," a distinction held by few gardens globally. The location on the peninsula creates a mild maritime climate, allowing for the cultivation of plants from subarctic to subtropical environments. The collection includes species that flower at different times of the year, from Magnolia biondii in March to the evergreen Magnolia grandiflora in early winter. Before his death in 2002, Miller donated the entire 140-acre arboretum to ensure its preservation; his ashes are interred beneath a hybrid magnolia tree he developed, known as 'Raspberry Fun'.
Living Fossils and Genetic Rescue
Magnolias are an ancient genus, with fossils dating back over 100 million years. They evolved before bees, and their flowers are structured to be pollinated by beetles. Today, nearly half of all wild magnolia species are threatened with extinction due to logging and habitat loss. The Chollipo Arboretum directly helps with the ex situ conservation of these plants—preserving them outside their native habitats.
The Ministry of Environment designated the arboretum as an official Ex-situ Conservation Organization in 2006. This formalizes its work in researching and propagating endangered species. The collection is a genetic bank, holding the living DNA of magnolia species whose native environments, particularly in China, have been destroyed. This genetic material safeguards against total extinction. Among the rare species cultivated here is the Dawson magnolia (Magnolia dawsoniana), which is endangered in its native Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China due to deforestation. For decades, the arboretum was a private research facility, only opening a section called the "Miller Garden" to the public in 2009 to share its work and educate visitors on the need for plant conservation