We are living beings — just one thread in the vast web of this planet's ecosystem.
So when we leave the concrete city and step into a forest, the body responds.
Muscles release. Breathing deepens. The noise in your head begins to quiet.
This isn't just a feeling — it's one of the most important experiences we can have on the path toward a wellness-centered life.
Korea is a country where two-thirds of the land is covered in forest. Across the country, there are 37 national recreational forests — spaces designed so that anyone can fully experience everything a forest has to offer.
Why Does a Forest Make Us Feel Better?
Walking along a forest path filled with phytoncides, listening to birdsong and the sound of flowing water — you begin to feel layers of tension you didn't even know you were carrying slowly peel away.
This isn't just a sensation. It's physiology. Multiple studies have confirmed that spending time in forests is associated with reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and improved focus, among other benefits.
The Many Ways a Forest Works on the Body
Time in the forest does more than connect you with nature — research shows it can boost immunity, lower blood pressure, and help ease symptoms of depression. It also lowers levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, and suppresses the body's fight-or-flight response.
Making time to walk in a forest is, quite simply, one of the most important things you can do for your wellness. Fortunately, Korea makes this easy — mountains and forests are tucked into cities across the country. (With 70% of the land being mountainous, it's hard to avoid them.)
Just 15 Minutes Can Change How Your Body Feels
According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2019, even just 15 minutes of walking in a forest can measurably reduce stress and anxiety.
In another study, participants who walked in a forest for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon showed increased levels of anti-cancer proteins and NK (natural killer) cells — immune cells that target tumors. The effects lasted for at least seven days after the walk.
Phytoncides — Nature's Hidden Healing Compound
The phytoncides released by trees aren't just a pleasant scent. They are bioactive compounds that lower stress hormones, increase white blood cell counts, and activate the immune system.
Simply walking slowly through a forest is enough to immerse your body in the healing environment that nature provides.
Forest Journeys Near Seoul
Korea's forests each carry their own distinct character. Here are three recommendations, curated for those seeking genuine rest and restoration.
1. A Journey to the Magical Heritage — Namhansanseong
One hour by car from Gangnam, Seoul. Nestled in the foothills of Namhansan — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — this is a place where the stillness of traditional hanok architecture meets the restorative power of nature.
Walk the forest trail that winds around the mountain, meditate among ancient trees, and step inside the Haenggung — a royal palace where Korean kings once sought refuge. It's a day that feels entirely removed from the pace of modern city life.
2. Temple Stay with Forest — Ganghwa Island
One hour from Incheon International Airport. The Ganghwa Nature Recreation Forest spans approximately 340,000㎡ of pristine woodland. Let the scent of grass, the forest breeze, and the sounds of nature wash over a body and mind worn down by daily life.
At the heart of this forest stands Jeondeungsa — a temple with over 1,600 years of history. A temple stay here offers something rare: the sound of monks chanting at dawn, quiet walks through ancient forest paths, and a pace of life that asks nothing of you but to be present.
3. To All Who Need Healing — Susu Forest, Gongju
Susu Forest is approximately 24.7 acres of healing woodland located in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province.
Healer Kim Min-ji created Susu Forest—a place to reconnect with nature, walk barefoot on forest paths, and calm the body and mind through contact with trees and other natural elements.
For the past two years, Kim has been exploring how this forest can serve as a resource for natural recovery — and the invitation is simple: come dance barefoot and rediscover the joy of deep connection with nature.
A forest asks for no special equipment, no complicated preparation. Just the willingness to walk.
Your body already knows how to heal — sometimes it just needs the right environment to begin.
Experience wellness at your own pace, among Korea's forests.
Sia, Shin
| The Pylon Club Editor
