[Gyeonggi Province ventures into the fields] ‘Jathyanggi Pureunsup’ offers the perfect getaway to heal yourself

Various programs are available including forest healing, forest experiences, and woodwork classes

◇ Even grasshoppers take a break here… Jathyanggi Pureunsup is home to the largest concentration of nut pine trees in Korea that are at least 80 years old. It is a special recreational forest where visitors can participate in various activities including ‘forest healing’ among pleasant nut pines full of phytoncide. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

With temperatures continuing to soar above 30℃, the weather just keeps draining our energy away. We desperately want to escape into the cool ocean or valleys, but travelling to distant destinations isn’t always easy. At times like these, let’s go and visit Gyeonggi Province’s Jathyanggi Pureunsup located near the metropolitan area. 

Jathyanggi Pureunsup sits 450 to 600m above sea level on the slopes of Chungryeongsan Mountain and Seorisan Mountain in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. The forest is home to over 50,000 nut pine trees that are at least 80 years old. Through various programs including forest healing and forest experiences in the pleasant nut pine forest, visitors can heal their mind and body, both of which would be exhausted from the summer heat. 

In particular, visitors can relax and treat themselves to phytoncide, a natural antibiotic released by nut pine trees. Phytoncide is great for relieving stress and offers the benefits of a therapeutic walk in the forest. You can blow away the stress of urban living and begin a healthy life right then and there.

Opened last year, Gyeonggi Province’s Jathyanggi Pureunsup boasts over 50,000 nut pine trees across 153ha. It is also home to a wide range of flora and fauna including lyre flowers, hepaticas, titmice, and black woodpeckers. The forest features other amenities such as the Healing Center, nature meditation space, deck road, and the forest lake to help visitors cool off in the mid-summer heat. 

Jathyanggi Pureunsup is a nut pine tree habitat that releases an average of 1.436㎍/㎥ of phytoncide each year. Last year, a study by the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment found that Jathyanggi Pureunsup released the largest amount of phytoncide among all recreational forests in Gyeonggi Province. 

Phytoncide is released in dense forests; its principal component is an organic compound called ‘terpene’. When inhaled, it gives the mind and body a pleasant feeling and expedites recovery from fatigue. This cleanses minds and bodies affected by toxins and stress, which in turn improves immune functions and enhances natural recovery. Simply put, phytoncide helps the human body return to a healthy state. 

◇ The Forest Healing Program involves healing activities such as ‘kichejo’ (a form of exercise that harnesses energy). It injects vitality from the forest into our exhausted bodies and helps calm the mind. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

Return your mind and body to full health with the Forest Healing Program’

The Forest Healing Program at Jathyanggi Pureunsup aims to heal the body with some help from the forest. The course features a walk along a healing forest path with a ‘forest healing instructor’ in addition to meditation in the forest, ‘kichejo’ (a form of exercise that controls energy), tree hugging, and wind bathing. Forest healing has been gaining popularity since people can transfer the vitality of the forest to their bodies, which have been worn down by the stress of urban life, and help calm their minds. 

In particular, phytoncide released by nut pines is known to be great for relieving stress and depression, resting the mind and body, and improving cardiopulmonary functions. 

A total of five Forest Healing Programs will be offered this summer: emptying/filling the mind and body through meditation in a forest full of nut pine aroma; leaving stress with the nut pine aroma; a healing camp to improve health with nut pine aroma; ‘Taegeukgwon’ lessons; and walking through nut pine phytoncide. 

Among the programs, Taegeukgwon lessons and walking through nut pine phytoncide are special initiatives developed in-house at the Jathyanggi Pureunsup this year. Both programs relieve stress, improve bodily functions, and train the nervous and lymphatic systems; accordingly, visitors can improve the well-being of their minds and bodies. Also in September, a prenatal education program in the nut pines will be available for expecting parents.

◇ Visitors can check a few basic health indicators including blood pressure and stress levels at the Healing Center. The center also provides a range of information with regards to the forest and offers education and counselling for visitors. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

Moon Je-nam (72) who visited the forest from Incheon with his family said, “Breathing in good air has cleared my head and lifted my spirits. Doing some ‘kichejo’ (exercise in the forest) in such a great environment has loosened up my body and has made me feel younger.” Moon’s son Il-sik (45) said, “Since we have one of the rare forest healing spaces in Korea nearby the metropolitan area, it is easy to visit. I came here with my parents to take care of our health and spend some quality time with my family in peace.”

Forest healing instructor Kim Myeong-hye said, “‘Forest healing programs use environmentally friendly woods and forests to improve health and eliminate the stresses of everyday life.” He added, “Visitors can check basic health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, and stress levels at the Healing Center. The center also provides diverse information, education, and counselling.” 

Forestry Environment Research Center Officer Yoo Geon-yong said, “The Forest Healing Program means much more than a simple break. It emphasizes the significance it has in terms of healing.” Yoo continued, “We’re planning to create various new programs to give people the chance to return their minds and bodies to full health.”

◇ The Forest Experience Program invites people to walk along a forest eco trail and interact freely with the forest. It helps visitors learn the value of nature and spend time together in the forest. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

Interact with the forest through a wide range of themes with the Forest Experience Program

The Forest Experience Program invites people to walk along eco trails through the nut pines and interact freely with the forest. The program is composed of various themes according to ‘eco-enteering’, the participant’s age, and subjects to help participants learn the value of nature as a group and spend time together in the woods. 

A total of five programs will be on offer this summer: Chungryeong Baeknimgwan experience; following the nut pine aroma and journeying through the forest; Hope Seeking Day every Thursday; Jurassic Explorers; and The Tortoise and the Hare. Among the available programs, Hope Seeking Day every Thursday, Jurassic Explorers, and The Tortoise and the Hare are special programs developed in-house by the Jathyanggi Pureunsup this year. 

Chungryeong Baeknimgwan is Korea’s first exhibition specializing in nut pines. It showcases nut pine-related attractions including the nut pine harvesting process, nut pine products, nut pine food, nut pine production tools, and nut pine trees.  

◇ Chungryeong Baeknimgwan is Korea’s first exhibition specializing in nut pines. It showcases nut pine-related attractions including the nut pine harvesting process, nut pine products, nut pine food, nut pine production tools, and nut pine trees. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

Walking along the forest trail, you will arrive at a slash-and-burn farming village. The village was where the families of slash-and-burn famers on Chungryeongsan Mountain actually lived during the 1960s and 70s. It is a special place where visitors can experience the lives of slash-and-burn farmers and see their dwellings on display with shingle-roofed houses, log cabins, and charcoal pits restored to their original states. 

‘Hope Seeking Day every Thursday’ is a program that offers cancer patients and cancer survivors the chance to see, hear, and experience the living and breathing life force of nature in person every Thursday. Concurrently, with the ‘Jurassic Explorers’ program, participants wear dinosaur-themed items and walk along a forest trail that abounds with various ferns such as bracken that survived through the Paleozoic era to experience what it was like during the Jurassic period. 

‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ is a program that divides parents and children into Team Hare and Team Tortoise to help them think about happy families. The program features MBTI tests, forest meditation, pine cone rolling, and building homes using natural materials. 

◇ The slash-and-burn farming village was where the families of slash-and-burn famers on Chungryeongsan Mountain actually lived during the 1960s and 70s. Visitors can experience the lives of slash-and-burn farmers with shingle-roofed houses, log cabins, and charcoal pits restored to their original states. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

Let’s build something in the ‘Nut pine aroma woodworking class’

Gyeonggi Province’s Jathyanggi Pureunsup also offers a workshop program to help families understand the characteristics of wood and build various wooden items. The program is divided into: a group woodworking experience; I am a Carpenter; and Let’s Draw on Wood. Participants can make wood products such as bookshelves, trays, tea tables, and chairs, or they can use burning pens to decorate wood products. 

Gyeonggi Province Forestry Environment Research Center Head Shim Hae-yong said, “We have attempted to add more substance to our programs by expanding the range from seven in the first half of this year to 14 in the second half. Also, we have assigned ‘forest healing instructors’ and ‘forest interpreters’ to each program so as to improve the professional quality of the programs.” Shim added, “We hope Gyeonggi residents can beat the summer heat at Jathyanggi Pureunsup, where the clear skies, mountains, and valleys create a spectacular harmony.”

You can apply for the programs available at Gyeonggi Province’s Jathyanggi Pureunsup for free via the Gyeonggi agricultural administration portal (farm.gg.go.kr). Please note that the woodworking program requires KRW 8,000 to KRW 70,000 (depending on the wood product) for materials used in class, and payment must be made at least two weeks prior to joining the program. 

For more information, please call the Gyeonggi Province Forestry Environment Research Center (031-8008-6769) or Yeoninsan Mountain Provincial Park Management Conservancy (031-580-9900).

◇ Families can learn the characteristics of wood and participate in workshops to build various wooden items. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Cheon Kyung-nam ckn0403@kg21.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201507311105137055C049&s_code=C049