Jeongeup City will offer free trial programs at Jeongeup Healing Forest, built in Sigi-dong, from October 21 through November 29. Visitors can take part in forest therapy programs with professional forest therapy instructors, including barefoot walking, Nordic walking, breathing meditation, tea meditation, yoga, aromatherapy and foot baths. The city plans to address any shortcomings identified during the trial and begin regular operations in March next year.
Wednesday through Sunday: Free activities with a quick phone call
All forest therapy programs are free during the trial period. The forest is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed every Monday and Tuesday.
Reservations are accepted by phone at 070-4229-0346 on a first-come, first-served basis. Since the activities are free and spots are limited, it’s best to book early if you have a preferred day. The trial period ends Sunday, November 29.
Seniors and people with disabilities on weekdays, families on weekends
Programs are tailored to who visits and when. On weekdays, the forest offers programs customized for seniors, students, office workers and people with disabilities. On weekends, it offers programs for families and office workers who have difficulty finding time to visit during the week.
The idea is not to offer the same prescription to everyone, even in the same forest, when people have different physical conditions and daily rhythms. Seniors who find walking difficult and families with children can experience the forest on different schedules.
From barefoot walks on clay paths to hammock meditation, unwind in the forest
Physical activities are at the heart of the experience. Visitors can get moving with barefoot walks on clay paths and Nordic walking, then unwind with yoga, foot baths and aromatherapy. There’s also time to settle the mind with singing bowls, breathing meditation and tea meditation.
The forest’s most distinctive feature is its hammock meditation shelter. Visitors can settle into a hammock and sway gently among the trees as they catch their breath, easing the pressure of meditation that comes with having to sit upright for a long time. Outdoor facilities, including a forest library and clay paths, are also available. The forest is equipped with devices that measure brain waves to assess mental well-being, as well as thermal therapy equipment.
There are also hands-on activities, including craft programs to make key chains, flower-pressed handkerchiefs and cypress-scented sachets, as well as traditional Korean archery.
Feedback through November 29 will shape the official opening in March
The trial is a test run ahead of the official opening. Jeongeup City plans to address any shortcomings identified during the trial before launching regular operations in March next year. In effect, visitors’ experiences at the forest now will help refine next year’s programs.
For modern people who spend all day glued to screens and information, closing their eyes and sitting still to look inward can be a higher hurdle than expected. Jeongeup Healing Forest lowers that hurdle through the senses. Stepping barefoot on the soil, walking, drinking tea and lying in a hammock to catch your breath can all be entry points to meditation. If you have too many thoughts to sit still, you could start with barefoot walking or Nordic walking; if you’re feeling worn out, try a foot bath or the hammock shelter. You can try the activities for free and see which suits you through November 29.
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