At a Glance

A reported 58,000 trees were cut down to make room for the Jeongseon Alpine Center. More than 1.2 million people signed a petition calling on organizers to consider a different site, to no avail.Organizers said it was the only site that would meet all International Ski Federation regulations.

The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics have not even begun yet but there is already a big loser if you ask environmentalists: a "sacred" South Korean forest razed to accommodate a new competitive ski complex.

Thousands of trees came down from the slopes of Mount Gariwang in the northeastern province of Gangwon to make room forthe new. Despite the event organizers' assurances that trees would be replaced once the games are complete, opponents remainskeptical.

The 500-acre virgin forest is considered sacred because of its connections to the Chosun dynasty, Korea's last dynasty that ruled from the 14th to 19th century until it's downfall in 1897. Mount Gariwang and declared the mountain a "" where the king's personal ginseng was grown.

An unsuccessful launched in 2014 to halt the destruction of the forest called on organizers to“truly live up to ideals of sustainability and environmental protection." More than 1.2 million people signed the petition, to no avail.

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Environmental activists say more than 58,000 trees were destroyed to make way for the Olympic venue.

Before construction began, the environmentalistsnoted that other skiresorts in the country, including Yongpyong, one of South Korea's most popular ski resorts, could have hosted the Olympics under the "exceptional circumstances" rule. Event organizers disagreed and said MountGariwang was the only site that met all criteria, including the International Ski Federation stipulation that all downhill runs be from a height of 800 meters above sea level.

“(It) is unnecessary to build a new ski resort on Mt. Gariwang. An existing one can be utilized,” Yoon Ki-don, secretary general of Green Korea said, according to.

Organizers have promised to return , the Guardian reported.