Jeongeup City will run a free trial of Jeongeup Healing Forest, established in Sigi-dong, from 21 October to 29 November. Visitors can take part in forest therapy programmes with a professional forest therapy instructor, including barefoot walking, Nordic walking, breathing meditation and tea meditation, yoga, aromatherapy and foot baths. The city plans to address any shortcomings identified during the trial before opening the forest officially in March next year.
Wednesday to Sunday: a quick phone call secures a free session
Forest therapy sessions are completely free during the trial period. The forest is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, and closed every Monday and Tuesday.
Places can be booked by phone on 070-4229-0346 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. As sessions are free and places are limited, it is best to book promptly if you have a preferred day. The trial ends on Sunday 29 November.
Weekdays for older people and disabled visitors; weekends for families
The programme varies according to who is visiting and when. On weekdays, tailored sessions are offered for groups including older people, students, office workers and disabled people. At weekends, programmes are available for families and office workers who find it difficult to make time during the week.
The idea is not to offer the same prescription to everyone, when their physical condition and daily routines differ. Older visitors who find walking challenging and families visiting with children can experience the forest on different schedules.
From barefoot walks on red-clay paths to hammock meditation: unwind in the forest
Physical activities are at the heart of the experience. Barefoot walks along red-clay paths and Nordic walking get the body moving, while yoga, foot baths and aromatherapy help ease tension. There is also time to settle the mind with singing bowls, breathing meditation and tea meditation.
The forest’s most distinctive facility is its hammock meditation shelter. Visitors can let their bodies rest in a net hammock, gently swaying among the trees as they steady their breathing. It offers an alternative for those who find the idea of sitting upright for a long time daunting. Visitors can also use outdoor facilities such as the forest library and red-clay paths. The site is also equipped with brainwave analysis equipment to assess mental wellbeing, as well as heat therapy equipment.
There are hands-on activities too, including crafts such as keyring-making, pressed-flower handkerchiefs and cypress-scented sachets, as well as traditional Korean archery.
Feedback received by 29 November will shape the official opening in March
The trial is a test run before the official opening. Jeongeup City plans to address any shortcomings identified during the trial and begin full operations in March next year. In effect, the experiences of people visiting the forest now will help refine next year’s programmes.
For modern people who spend all day glued to screens and information, meditation—closing their eyes, sitting still and looking within—can feel like a higher hurdle than expected. Jeongeup Healing Forest lowers that hurdle by engaging the senses. Walking barefoot on the soil, taking a stroll, drinking tea and lying in a hammock to steady the breath can all be ways into meditation. Those who find it hard to sit still because their minds are busy could start with barefoot or Nordic walking; those feeling physically tired could begin with a foot bath or a rest in the hammock shelter. Visitors can try things out for themselves, free of charge, until 29 November, and see what suits them.
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