National Jangseong Healing Forest: Deep rest in Korea's cypress forest, phytoncide 5x the city

National Jangseong Healing Forest: Deep rest in Korea's cypress forest, phytoncide 5x the city

National Jangseong Healing Forest sits in Jangseong-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province, a forest-healing destination renowned for its cypress trees. The phytoncide concentration around the forest is about five times higher than in a city, drawing more than 200,000 visitors every year.

Park Dong-sik, a native of Gwangju, visited the healing forest with his wife on the afternoon of June 19, taking a deep breath with a big smile. "(In the forest), the air is so good that I'm thinking of taking herbal tonics now." "I always come here once or twice a month," he said. "I feel like my body and mind are both cleansed." In his mid-70s, Park seemed in far better shape than his peers.

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Scientific evidence backs the notion that the air in a cypress forest is a health booster, as such trees emit the most phytoncide among coniferous species. Phytoncide, a natural antibacterial substance that plants emit to protect themselves from pests and disease, is considered effective in relieving stress, boosting bodily immunity, and calming mind and body.

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The National Forest Welfare Institute, which manages the cypress forest, runs interactive programs that let visitors feel the trees' healing power firsthand. These include lying in a hammock to feel the forest's energy in complete relaxation, "forest yoga" to improve flexibility while breathing in phytoncide, and making pillows using cypress wood.

Stores around the forest carry craft items made from cypress wood that are usable daily, such as spatulas, pillows and acupressure tools.

The forest is more than just a tourist attraction or rest area; it drives the regional economy. Its public welfare value is estimated at KRW 15.9 billion, the production inducement effect from tourist visits KRW 70.6 billion and the value-added stimulating effect KRW 43.7 billion — accounting for over 40% of its region's economy.

Boosting human health while propping up the regional economy, National Jangseong Healing Forest is an excellent choice to rest body and mind.