The colors change first when you enter a birch forest. Most forests are made up of greens and browns, but in a birch grove, white trunks rise in vertical rows, breaking up the light in a different way. National Gimcheon Healing Forest, located at 1237-89 Sudogil in Jeungsan-myeon, Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, sits at the foot of Mount Sudo and contains one of the region’s rare birch forests.
Operated by the Korea Forest Welfare Institute under the Korea Forest Service, the site has no lodging facilities. It is not a retreat for an overnight stay, but a healing space where visitors walk in for a few hours or half a day and then return. It is also one of the least demanding options for planning a meditation trip.
A 52-Hectare Forest Built Over Three Years
National Gimcheon Healing Forest was developed from November 2016 through December 2018. It covers 52 hectares. Its main tree species are birch, Korean pine and Japanese larch.
The forest has four named areas: Sesimji, meaning “a place to cleanse the mind”; a deck trail running through the Korean pine grove; the birch forest, lined with white trunks; and the Korean Peninsula Wetland. Because the walking paths and places to rest are separated, programs can alternate between movement and stillness.
Walk Barefoot and Meditate in a Hammock
The site offers four forest-therapy programs.
“Sudosan Wellness Therapy” is a two-hour program for the general public that combines a walk through the birch forest with small-prop therapy. It is available only to groups of 20 or more and costs 10,000 won per person.
“Sudosan Mind Therapy” centers on meditation. The two-hour program begins with a barefoot trek through the Korean pine forest and continues with rest meditation while lying in a hammock. It is also for groups of 20 or more and costs 10,000 won per person. Participants feel the soil and fallen leaves beneath their bare feet before surrendering their weight to a hammock and looking up through the branches.
For teenagers, “Sudosan Healing Dodream (Forest)” combines a trek linking the Korean pine and birch forests with ensemble drum activities and forest meditation. The three-hour program is available to groups of 20 or more and costs 15,000 won per person. Its notable feature is the pairing of loud, energetic activity with periods of silence.
The program available to solo visitors is “Thermal Therapy.” It consists of one hour of a dry half-body bath followed by healing tea, and can be booked by groups of one or more. The fee is 11,000 won for individuals and 10,000 won for groups.
One of 10 National Healing Forests
To understand National Gimcheon Healing Forest, it helps to look at the system behind it. The Act on Forest Culture and Recreation defines a healing forest as “a forest created to provide forest therapy, including its facilities and land.” It defines forest therapy as “activities that use various elements of nature, such as scents and scenery, to boost the human body’s immunity and promote health.”
The Korea Forest Welfare Institute operates 10 national healing forests. In the Seoul metropolitan area, there are two in Yangpyeong; in the Gangwon region, Daegwallyeong and Hoengseong; in the Chungcheong region, Jecheon and Yesan; in the Jeolla region, Jangseong, Gokseong, Hwasun and Gochang; and in the Gyeongsang region, Daeunsan and Gimcheon. Gimcheon is one of the two in the Gyeongsang region and the only national facility located in North Gyeongsang Province. Local governments and private operators also run several public and private healing forests across the country.
The programs are led by forest-therapy instructors. Forest-therapy instruction is a national certification divided into Level 1 and Level 2. Applicants must meet education or work-experience requirements, complete training at a designated institution and pass the national certification exam. In other words, the meditation, breathing and walking programs conducted in the forest are designed within a professional certification system rather than simply reflecting individual preferences.
For people seeking meditation programs, this structure offers two takeaways. One is that similar programs can be found across the country. The other is that the actual experience can vary considerably because each forest has different tree species and terrain. Gimcheon’s distinguishing feature is its rare birch forest in North Gyeongsang Province.
Visitors Traveling Alone and in Groups
Visitors should check how the site operates before going. The three programs that include forest walks and meditation are offered only to groups of 20 or more, while Thermal Therapy is the only one available to individual applicants. Companies, schools and clubs have more options when planning a meditation program as a group. Someone who wants to walk quietly alone may find it more practical to book Thermal Therapy and take a separate walk along the forest paths.
Program fees are listed as 12,000 won per individual and 10,000 won per person for groups of 20 or more, based on two hours. Renting the program room separately costs 90,000 won for two hours. Children younger than 36 months can enter free when accompanied by a guardian.
Reservations and Directions
Reservations can be made through the Korea Forest Welfare Institute website (www.fowi.or.kr), or inquiries can be directed to the customer center at 1566-4460, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On-site inquiries can be made at 054-434-4670.
Parking requires attention. The parking lot inside the facility is reserved for people with disabilities, so general visitors must use the public parking lot in Sudo Village. Comfortable clothing and athletic shoes are required. Cooking, smoking, camping and bringing pets are not permitted.
When Is the Best Time to Visit?
Birch trees show a different side in every season. In summer, when the leaves are thick, the contrast between the white trunks and green leaves is vivid. In late fall and winter, after the leaves have fallen, only the white trunks remain, brightening the entire forest. If you are considering a program that includes barefoot trekking, a season when the ground is not cold will be more comfortable. The operating periods for each program are not listed separately on the website, so visitors should confirm them before going.
Planning a Half-Day Visit
Because the facility has no lodging, planning is straightforward. Visitors can arrive in the morning, take a two-hour program, then walk farther along the forest paths after lunch. Another option is to add one hour of Thermal Therapy before or after the program. Groups can fill a half-day by pairing Mind Therapy with Thermal Therapy, creating a sequence that gets the body moving and then warms it up.
The four areas in the forest each have a different character. The birch forest is open and bright, while the deck trail through the Korean pine forest is shaded and has a well-maintained surface that makes walking easy. Sesimji and the Korean Peninsula Wetland are both located near water. Choosing a place to stop and sit in advance makes it easier to add a short meditation outside the scheduled program.
Because visitors must use the public parking lot in Sudo Village, it is best to allow extra time upon arrival. Comfortable clothing and athletic shoes are required, and anyone booking a program that includes barefoot trekking may find it useful to bring a towel for cleaning their feet.
A Space That Pairs Walking With Stillness
Forest-therapy facilities in South Korea often focus primarily on walking. National Gimcheon Healing Forest places movement and stillness side by side within a single program, combining barefoot trekking and hammock meditation or ensemble drumming and forest meditation. For people new to meditation, this can feel more approachable than a program made up entirely of sitting.
The area around Mount Sudo is a quiet mountain region in inland North Gyeongsang Province. Its distance from the bustle of large tourist destinations is both a drawback and an advantage. Taking half a day to walk among white trees and lie in a hammock looking up at the sky offers the shape of a meditation trip without requiring a long journey.