Meet Ju-yer Kim, Plant Collections Manager | Chollipo Arboretum

At Chollipo Arboretum—Korea’s first private arboretum and a designated ex situ conservation organization—plant records connect today’s living collections with decades of human relationships, international exchange, and conservation work. As Plant Collections Manager, Ju-yer Kim helps safeguard that history while developing new ways to carry it forward.

Recently, Ju-yer led the preservation and relocation of 13,115 historical documents, including the arboretum’s earliest plant record cards, field logs, and international seed-exchange records. He is also working toward a GIS-based digital field book that will connect this archival legacy with precise, real-time information from the garden.

In this Community Spotlight, Ju-yer reflects on the records behind Chollipo’s living collections, the mentors who shaped his approach, and why documenting a plant’s story is a responsibility to future generations.

What’s a recent project you’re especially proud of?

Recently, I led a major project to preserve and relocate 13,115 historical archival documents—including our arboretum's earliest plant record cards and historic field logs—to our newly established archival safety repository at the Eco-Healing Center. These precious archives have already been officially designated as a Korean National Heritage. In this process, my team and I conducted a meticulous physical recount, cross-referencing every single page of decades-old work journals and international seed exchange logs.

Our ultimate goal now is to inscribe these foundational records onto the UNESCO Memory of the World register. Rediscovering the tactile value of these analog assets and securing their permanent preservation for the world has been one of the most rewarding milestones of my career.

How do plant records help you tell better stories about your collection?

Plant records are far more than static metadata; they hold the living drama of how a plant arrived at its home. We have been deeply analyzing the historical correspondence between our late founder, Carl Ferris Miller (Min Byung-gal), and early crucial contributors like Kim Hyo-kwon.

In particular, Kim Hyo-kwon’s meticulous records of our early international seed and plant exchanges with prestigious overseas arboreta reveal how interconnected our collections have been since the very beginning. Their letters and logs uncover the immense human dedication, struggles, and passion required to introduce species like Magnolia to once-barren lands. 

Well-preserved archives breathe emotional narrative and historical life into our living collections, turning a botanical specimen into an inspiring story of global human connection.

Is there a skill you’re currently learning or hoping to develop next?

While much of my work has focused on preserving the analog past, I am now passionately focusing on translating that heritage into digital data for future generations. I am currently expanding my skills in GPS field surveying to capture precise spatial coordinates for our individual living accessions. 

My next goal is to implement a GIS-based Digital Field Book (electronic field logs) that allows our team to log real-time data, mapping shapes, photos, and plant health assessments right from the field. 
Fusing historical archives with advanced GIS mapping to build a digital twin of our arboretum is my ultimate current challenge.

Did you have a mentor who influenced your path in botany or horticulture?

The philosophical anchor of my career has always been our founder, Carl Ferris Miller, whose unconditional devotion to plants shaped the very identity of Chollipo Arboretum.

In addition, I have been greatly influenced by academic mentors like Dr. Yong-shik Kim (former Chollipo Arboretum Director) and Professor Chang Chin-Sung (Seoul National University). Collaborating with them on lectures detailing the botanical history embedded within plant scientific names has profoundly deepened my perspective. Their influence taught me to see plant recording not just as administrative work, but as a sacred duty to document history accurately for the next generation.

Related presentation

Ju-yer named Dr. Yong-shik Kim as one of the mentors who shaped his approach to plant records. In this 2022 presentation hosted by San Francisco Botanical Garden, Dr. Kim discusses research on Korean magnolias and Chollipo Arboretum’s Magnolia collection.