The fate of a centuries-old ginkgo tree in Seoul's Buam-dong, allegedly poisoned by a nearby museum for potentially obstructing traffic, hangs in the balance despite extensive efforts to salvage it, according to news reports Sunday. The tree, which stands on private land next to the Whanki Museum, began showing signs of severe distress in April, shedding its leaves weeks earlier than usual and turning color. A joint investigation by Jongno District officials and police later concluded that herb