Refreshing Body and Mind... Healing and Relaxation in Pohang Forest Healing

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Pohang City has recently begun reorganizing the "Pohang Forest" to promote citizens' health and mental healing, in response to the growing interest in "wellness," which pursues "well-being," "health," and "happiness."

According to the city, the "Infant Forest Experience Centers" are operated at Doeumsan Forest Culture Training Center in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, Unjesan Forest Bathing Area in Daesong-myeon, Nam-gu, and Songlim Forest in Songdo-dong.

‘Early Childhood Forest Experience Center’.

The Infant Forest Experience Center is a forest created for children who will be the future leaders of Pohang.

Through free play, children can experience nature with all five senses, fostering emotional development as well as creativity and concentration. Trained infant forest instructors run various programs at the center.

The Infant Forest Experience Centers are equipped with various experience and play facilities. Pohang City plans to refurbish aging facilities by replacing walking mats and repairing play equipment by the end of February to ensure that infants can play freely in a safe environment.

Pohang's Infant Forest is very popular, attracting about 30,000 visitors annually from approximately 160 kindergartens and daycare centers in the region. To meet the increasing demand for forest education each year, the city plans to expand infrastructure such as experience facilities and develop and operate diverse programs to provide high-quality forest education services.

The "Naeyeonsan Healing Forest," located in Songra-myeon, Buk-gu, Pohang, opened in June 2021 and provides forest healing services.

The healing center is equipped with a health measurement room, cypress foot bath, and multipurpose auditorium, while outdoor facilities include a forest bathing area, anion wind bath, meditation rest area, and deck road.

Main programs include foot bath therapy, forest health calisthenics, five-sense walking meditation, and barefoot walking. Forest healing instructors, who are forest welfare experts, operate these programs to provide higher-quality forest education and healing services.

Forest education and healing programs are conducted by registered forest welfare specialized companies from March to November each year. Pohang City plans to strengthen the facilities within the healing center and enhance programs this year to ensure solid operation.

From March, forest interpretation programs will be operated at the Sabang Memorial Park in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, and Jungmyeong Natural Ecological Park in Yeonil-eup, Nam-gu.

People of all ages, from infants to the elderly, can walk through the forest with professional forest interpreters to learn about the value and importance of forests. These programs are very popular, with about 11,000 participants annually.

Pohang City plans to improve visitor convenience by conducting typhoon damage restoration and trail renewal projects at Jungmyeong Natural Ecological Park this year.

Kim Eungsu, head of the Green City Project Group, said, "Since COVID-19, the demand for healing and relaxation through forests has increased, and Pohang City's forest experience programs, which allow people to enjoy rest and activities simultaneously, are gaining attention. Before the peak season, we will thoroughly develop programs and refurbish facilities to become a mecca of forest recreation cities."

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