Busan Gijang-gun: "Agriculture is Healing"... Healing Agriculture Cares for Body and Mind

Full-scale Operation of Healing Agriculture Programs at Gijang County Agricultural Technology Center Starting in April
Utilizing the "Healing Power" of Agriculture... Providing Healing Opportunities for Modern People

Gijang County in Busan is actively promoting "healing agriculture," which utilizes agriculture to enhance mental and physical health and foster emotional well-being, continuing its efforts from last year.

Last year, the Gijang County Agricultural Technology Center operated 28 sessions of healing agriculture programs across three courses, with 230 residents participating and experiencing psychological stability and improved physical health through healing agriculture.

Last year, the Agricultural Technology Center operated a healing agriculture program together with local residents. Provided by Gijang County

The main programs included activities for emotional stability using plants, psychological healing through gardening, horticultural therapy, and companion plant education. Additionally, the "urban agriculture experience" was held alongside, raising urban residents' interest in agriculture and leading to high satisfaction among participants.

Based on last year's achievements, the Agricultural Technology Center plans to maximize the effects of healing agriculture this year by offering more diverse and customized programs for various target groups.

In particular, tailored programs will be provided for different life stages, with expanded offerings for seniors and office workers. To this end, cooperation with the Gijang County Senior Welfare Center will be strengthened, and collaboration with related organizations will be pursued to enhance R&D outcomes in healing agriculture.

This year's healing agriculture programs are largely divided into "institutional programs" and "general programs."

The "institutional program," in cooperation with the Gijang County Senior Welfare Center, will run from April to June, consisting of 10 sessions for 20 seniors. The main content includes gardening, growing companion plants, and healing horticultural activities, supporting both emotional stability and physical activity for seniors.

The "general program" will be held throughout May at the Agricultural Technology Center and Cheolma Urban Agriculture Park, targeting office workers and Gijang County residents. Over five sessions for 150 participants, a variety of hands-on programs will be offered, such as green tea flower therapy, cooking with garden vegetables, and making lotus leaf rice wrap lunch boxes, allowing participants to directly experience agriculture and enjoy its healing effects.

As healing agriculture is becoming an alternative that provides modern people with tangible psychological stability and health benefits beyond simple agricultural experiences, the healing agriculture programs at the Gijang County Agricultural Technology Center in 2025 are expected to bring comfort and vitality to many residents.

County Governor Jung Jongbok said, "I hope 'healing agriculture' will become an opportunity to provide healing for modern people who are physically and mentally exhausted by utilizing the 'healing power' of agriculture," adding, "We will continue to develop and expand various healing agriculture programs that connect urban residents with agriculture."

For information about the programs, please contact the Agricultural Education Team at the Gijang County Agricultural Technology Center.

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