In order to understand the human impact upon demographic change in plant population in rural forests, we examined the population trends of Pinus densiflora and Quercus serrata in P. densiflora forests viewing their seedlings and saplings in rural Korea and Japan. The most prominent factor affecting the regeneration of the pine and oak was theintensity of management activity which controlled the vegetation statification and its light environment. Open spaces, such as graveyard or cleaned area that allow the long-term direct daylight in dry season to accelerate the surface heat of soil, were unfavorable havitats for germination and growth of both species. The negative effects of the presence of litter and evergreen trees were related to the failure of early seedling and sapling growth of pine. Cover of litter is, especially, another factor related to the growth of pine saplings. It is considered that successful germination and sapling growth of pine and oak in early successional stages is determined by vegetation structures and light condition.