[Insta Walk] Green Library (Reading Room) - Phones Off, Please~ #Forest #Books #Walk #Healing

The forest reading room created by The Stay Healing Park, located at the foot of Borisan Mountain in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, is a secret space that can only be reached after walking 1.5 km along the walking trail. Photo by Mayena PD

[Asia Economy, Kim Heeyoon] Robert Walser, a provocative writer who astonished the German literary scene in the 20th century and was highly praised by Hermann Hesse and Franz Kafka, once confessed that walking was "absolutely essential to me; if I can't do it, it's as if I'm dead." He also said, "A walk that refreshes, comforts, and delights me is a source of pleasure, joy, and happiness." The joy of walking is, in many ways, remarkably similar to the joy of reading. Just as you may seem to walk aimlessly but eventually reach your destination, following the signposts set by an author as you read brings you the satisfaction of finishing a book. So, what spaces best embody the intersection of walking and reading? The 'Green Library', a hidden reading room deep in the foothills of Borisan in Seorak-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, is a place that perfectly fits that description.

After about an hour's drive from downtown Seoul, and another ten minutes from the Seorak IC exit, you can reach a place where you can simultaneously enjoy the pleasures of walking and reading. 'The Stay Healing Park', known as a hidden gem, is located here, but the true highlight, the reading room, is even further along. The walking trail winds gently through the dense forest, between towering fir and larch trees. After about 30 minutes of walking, listening to the sounds of the wind and fallen leaves, a cozy glass greenhouse comes into view between the wooden sculptures and benches.

One wall of the Yuri Onsil Reading Room is filled with bookshelves mainly holding books themed around healing, travel, and relaxation.

The Glasshouse Reading Room Nestled Along the Trail

The existence of the reading room, which can only be reached after walking 1.5 km, feels both novel and welcoming. Opening the door to the modestly sized glasshouse, visitors are greeted by a long table with four chairs and a wall lined with bookshelves. In a space where only the sounds of wind, birds, and a gently flowing stream fill the air, it is difficult to ignore the books nearby. Walkers who stumble upon this place by chance are drawn in as if by fate, browse the shelves, pick up a book, and naturally sit at the desk to begin a stroll with the author.

A woman in her 30s, who visited the reading room while walking with her six-year-old son, naturally entered the greenhouse, took out a picture book, and sat beside her son to read. "My son is usually restless and runs away or can't concentrate when I read to him, but here, he sat calmly, which made me so happy," she said with a bright smile. She added that she had no idea such a place existed and had only come across it by chance while out for some fresh air. "'Uncle Elephant Tutti came from afar to fetch water. There are 100 drops of water in total. Now he must hurry home because the children are waiting for him.' The picture book 'Uncle Elephant and the 100 Drops of Water' that the mother read to her son was a story for all fathers who work hard behind the scenes to care for their families.

The walking path winding through the densely packed larch, fir, and maple trees retains its natural appearance thanks to efforts to preserve the forest as much as possible. Photo by Ma Yena PD

After the mother and son finished reading and left, a middle-aged couple in their 50s entered. The wife, who said the reading room felt like a hidden treasure discovered by chance during their walk, took Alain de Botton's 'The Art of Travel' from the shelf and set off on a journey of her own, while her husband became absorbed in 'Just As You Are' by Buddhist monk Beopryun. "Honestly, it's hard to settle down and read a book at home. But here, surrounded by trees, with the sounds of water and birds, and even a desk, it's impossible not to read," the couple said. They lingered in the reading room for quite some time, savoring the joy that reading brings, before leaving the space.

Entering Doksodang, located midway along the serene walking trail, visitors naturally pick up a book and sit at a desk to begin a stroll with the author. The sounds of the wind, water, and birds accompany the reading, aiding visitors' contemplation. Photo by Ma Yena PD

A Space for Reading and Contemplation... Embodying the Values of Healing and Giving Back

Why was the reading room placed in the middle of a tranquil walking trail? Oh Jungtaek, the manager in charge of operations and marketing at The Stay Healing Park, emphasized the importance of time and space for contemplation. "As guests walk along this trail, they have time to reflect. I think the reading room is a space for quietly organizing one's thoughts while walking alone and in peace. Rather than a place to stay for a long time and read, it's more like a comma-a brief pause for rest and self-reflection."

The process of creating the walking trail and reading room while preserving the forest as much as possible was a series of challenges. In particular, the background of saving the trees, prioritizing healing-the theme of the entire space-over profit, was intriguing. Oh explained, "As its name suggests, this place was designed to be a space for staying and healing. The reading room is also meant to give back to those who visit the forest, with a strong focus on healing and reciprocity. While corporate social activities are important, practicing the spirit of giving back through spaces like this is also a core value for us," he said, explaining the background of the reading room's creation.

Considering the effort required to get here, and the additional 1.5 km walk, the reading room could be seen as a distant and inconvenient space. However, for those willing to make the effort, this place offers the opportunity to enjoy time for oneself, surrounded by the ever-changing scenery of the forest throughout the seasons.

Instagram Introductions

@hangahanday Enjoying a bookcation all by myself ♥♥♥
@ddeojun_mom18 I just came for a walk, but there's a beautiful reading room in the forest! It was worth the effort~
@nana.737 Truly a healing park. I was moved by the pine forest all the way there, and then by the reading room!
@brilleve The best-an unexpected library in the woods-
@leemyunghee A great place to read! A reading room you encounter while walking along the trail #ReadingRoom