Chungnam to Newly Operate Three Public Healing Forests in March Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province has completed the establishment of three public healing forests in the region and will begin operations starting March next year.

According to the province on the 21st, the newly established healing forests this year are located at Taehaksan in Cheonan, Jumisan in Gongju, and Hyangjeoksan in Gyeryong.

These healing forests are scheduled to open in mid-March next year and will be utilized as spaces where residents exhausted from COVID-19 can stay and heal their mind and body by diversifying healing programs.

Forest healing refers to activities that use the environmental elements of the forest to boost the body's immunity and restore physical and mental health.

In Chungnam, a total of five healing forests are in operation, including the three newly established sites. The previously established healing forests are located in Seocheon and Yesan.

The province plans to link the programs operated in these healing forests with health centers, hospitals, and others to support the mental healing of COVID-19 workers, middle-aged people experiencing menopause, and the physical and mental stability of pregnant women.

In particular, starting next year, a business agreement will be signed with the Korea Forest Service and the National Health Insurance Service to conduct a pilot project to activate the Healthy Lifestyle Practice Support Fund system.

The pilot project will operate by having preventive participants residing in Cheongyang and Buyeo experience forest healing programs at national and public healing forests, receive a ‘Certificate of Completion of Health Management Program,’ and submit it to the National Health Insurance Service to receive practice support funds.

Healing programs can be participated in by individuals or groups who make prior reservations and bring comfortable clothing and sneakers.

Lee Sang-chun, Director of the Forest Resources Division of the province, said, “The Healthy Lifestyle Practice Support Fund system will be an opportunity to vitalize forest healing,” and added, “We will continue to play a key role in promoting public health through forests.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.