A forest meditation program in Jeju will invite participants to stroll through the autumn Gotjawal forest, observe the trees, rest in a hammock and settle their minds with the sound of singing bowls and a cup of flower tea. Jeju Stone Park said on Oct. 20 that it will run Into the Gotjawal Forest II, a program for adults, at Gyorae Natural Recreation Forest from Oct. 21 through Nov. 28. The program will be held 12 times, every Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participation is free.
Eight forest activities tracing the seasons of life, from drawing trees to singing bowls and flower tea meditation
This year’s theme is “Walking Through the Four Seasons of Life in Gotjawal.” Inspired by how the forest changes with the seasons and how life, too, has its own rhythms, the program connects nature with the stages of life through eight activities. Two forest-welfare specialists will lead participants along the ecological observation trail and at a forest rest area.
Participants will look closely at trees and try drawing them before setting out along the forest trail. After unwinding with a sky-mirror activity and a rest in a hammock, they will move on to breathing meditation and singing bowl meditation, which uses sound and vibration. The session will continue with activities using natural materials and flower tea meditation, and conclude with participants sharing what they felt in the forest.
Health-monitoring devices will measure participants’ stress levels, oxygen saturation and blood pressure, while also gauging how relaxed and at ease they feel.
From a celebrated forest trail to an outstanding wellness destination, program incorporates Korea Tourism Organization advice to mark renewed selection
The program was developed to mark Gyorae Natural Recreation Forest’s renewed selection for 2026 in the nature healing category of the Outstanding Wellness Tourism Destinations program, and to expand healing and relaxation offerings that draw on Gotjawal’s natural environment. Based on advice from the Korea Tourism Organization on outstanding wellness tourism destinations, the program pairs the forest’s natural resources with storytelling and nature-based healing activities.
The Gotjawal forest trail at Gyorae Natural Recreation Forest was named one of the Korea Forest Service’s “Exemplary Forest Trails for Walking” in 2023 and was recommended in 2024 as an “Exemplary Forest Trail for Autumn Foliage.” The forest was also selected in the nature healing category of the Outstanding Wellness Tourism Destinations program, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, for the second year in a row.
Lee Sang-hyo, head of the Jeju Stone Park Management Office, said the program was designed to give people a chance to reflect on their lives and enjoy a break amid the natural surroundings of the autumn Gotjawal forest. He also said he hopes residents and tourists will carry the ease and energy they find in the forest into their daily lives.
For beginners who find it hard to sit still: easing into meditation by walking, lying down and drinking tea
For people who spend much of the day in front of screens, closing their eyes and sitting still for a long time can make meditation feel more daunting than expected. This program moves through sensory activities—walking, observing, drawing, lying down and drinking tea—before introducing breathing and sound meditation. The idea is to get the body moving first and let the mind follow.
The format may suit meditation beginners unfamiliar with seated meditation, people who enjoy walking and nature, and travelers looking for a quiet half-day break during a trip to Jeju. It also stands out for bringing singing bowl meditation, which originated abroad and has taken root in Korea, into a single experience with Jeju’s forest and flower tea. As meditation experiences in Korean forests gain recognition alongside wellness tourism, the path for K-meditation to reach the world will grow wider.
Wednesday and Saturday mornings starting Oct. 21; first-come, first-served reservations through the Gyorae Natural Recreation Forest website
Applications will be accepted by advance reservation through the Gyorae Natural Recreation Forest website. Each session is limited to 20 adults, admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Program: Into the Gotjawal Forest II (Theme: “Walking Through the Four Seasons of Life in Gotjawal”)
Dates: Oct. 21, 2026 (Wednesday)–Nov. 28, 2026 (Saturday); 12 sessions, every Wednesday and Saturday
Time: 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Location: Ecological observation trail and forest rest area at Gyorae Natural Recreation Forest, Jeju
Organizer: Jeju Stone Park
Eligibility and capacity: Adults; 20 people per session, first-come, first-served
Fee: Free
Registration: Advance reservations through the Gyorae Natural Recreation Forest website
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