Korea Securities Depository Creates Meditation Forest at Geumgok High School in Busan

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] The Korea Securities Depository held a completion ceremony on the 16th for the creation of a school meditation forest within Geumgok High School located in Buk-gu, Busan, with attendees including Kim Seok-jun, Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, and other officials.

The Depository received recommendations from the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education for schools suitable for creating meditation forests and has established meditation forests in a total of six schools, starting with Gaeseong High School in 2018 and now including Geumgok High School. At Geumgok High School, trees such as Ipapnamu and Sansuyu, which help absorb carbon and foster students' emotional development, were planted on a 627㎡ site within the school, along with the creation of walking paths.

Lee Myung-ho, President of the Korea Securities Depository, stated, “We hope that this will serve not only as a place for emotional development for students struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic but also as a venue for ecological learning.” Kim Seok-jun, Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, said, “Creating meditation forests in schools for the youth, the future generation, will be a foundation for moving toward a carbon-neutral society,” and added, “We hope more companies will participate in establishing school meditation forests.”

Park Seong-jun, Principal of Geumgok High School, expressed gratitude, saying, “We thank the Korea Securities Depository for creating a meditation forest that can be used as a resting space for students tired from studies and as a place for creative character education.”

Going forward, the Korea Securities Depository plans to continuously create school meditation forests and promote forest carbon offset projects as part of its social contribution activities.