Seongdong-gu Seoul Forest Summer Camping Site Opens... Gwangjin-gu 'Achasan Leisure Center' Established... Dobong-gu Musugol Green Welfare Center Opens... Nowon-gu 'Nowon Healing Camping Site' Operates
The heatwave is reaching its peak.
People are quickening their steps to escape the city and seek nature. Amid this, Seongdong-gu, Gwangjin-gu, Dobong-gu, and Nowon-gu have opened facilities where residents can spend time coolly and have started operating them.
Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) operates the ‘Seongdong Seoul Forest Summer Camping Site’ to enjoy the natural environment within the city and relax during the summer. The ‘Seongdong Seoul Forest Summer Camping Site’ is scheduled to operate for one month from July 26 to August 25. Through advance reservation, visitors can use the site for one night and two days from 2 PM on Friday or Saturday until 11 AM the next day. The camping site is located about a 5-minute walk from Seoul Forest Station (Exit 3) on the Suin-Bundang Subway Line, making it convenient to visit by public transportation. Nearby are natural experience learning centers such as the insect botanical garden and butterfly garden within Seoul Forest, providing plenty of activities to enjoy. During the camping site operation period, a program called ‘Exciting Summer Forest Exploration’ will be held for visitors. This ecological program, led by a forest interpreter, offers various activities such as tree exercises, exploring the flora and fauna of Seoul Forest, and making insect pendants. Visitors can participate by applying on the day of camping site use.
Reservations for the camping site start on July 15 on a first-come, first-served basis through the ‘Seoul Public Service Reservation’ website, and the reservation is completed upon payment of a 10,000 KRW usage fee. Visitors must bring their own individual tents that fit a 3m×3m platform to use the camping site. To establish a safe and healthy camping culture, cooking and drinking alcohol, including lighting fires, are prohibited within the camping site. Additionally, visitors are required to dispose of any trash generated during their stay in designated places using the provided volume-based waste bags to minimize waste generation and promote a sustainable camping culture.
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) has created the ‘Achasan Leisure Center’ in the natural forest of Achasan Mountain, where residents can enjoy leisure and relaxation, and started operations on the 2nd of this month.
The ‘Achasan Leisure Center’ (127 Walkerhill-ro), covering an area of 86.49㎡, is a community space that embraces all generations. It has been newly renovated from the existing ecological resource room into a healing spot that meets various leisure demands. It offers a ‘Forest Healing Program’ for all age groups, with customized education reflecting the characteristics of each generation, from infants to seniors. Unique experiences are available from Tuesday to Saturday, excluding public holidays.
Every Tuesday in July, exercise classes for seniors will be held, featuring physical activities that help improve cognitive function and emotional well-being. Wednesdays offer psychological healing such as mindfulness care, meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, and tea ceremonies. Thursdays provide health lectures by a Korean medicine doctor on preventing chronic diseases. Fridays are for forest play experiences for infants and toddlers, and Saturdays feature communication time with family missions. Additionally, a horticultural program for emotional stability of pregnant women is held once a month.
Those wishing to participate can apply online on the Achasan Leisure Center website or register on-site. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis for each program, and participation is completely free. For inquiries, contact the Gwangjin-gu Office Park and Greenery Division.
Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eun-seok) has opened the ‘Musugol Green Welfare Center’ (266-2 Dobong-ro 169-gil), a ‘rest’ space within the city.
Located at the foot of Dobongsan Mountain in Seoul, the center is expected to become a place for residents to rest and recover from their busy daily lives. The center covers a site area of 7,334㎡ and a total floor area of 827㎡, consisting of two single-story buildings (Building A and B). Facilities include a health measurement room, cypress experience room, mind and body relaxation room, five-sense healing room, and dietary therapy room.
The district has also planned various healing programs utilizing these experience rooms. After a pilot operation throughout July, the programs will officially start in August.
The programs consist of activities such as healthy foot baths, warm cypress experiences, and tea conversations that allow participants to enjoy nature and find mental and physical stability. All programs at the Musugol Green Welfare Center can be applied for through the Seoul Public Service Reservation website. For more details, contact the center’s staff.
Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) operates the ‘Nowon Healing Camping Site,’ a camping site exclusively for residents to support their leisure activities.
The ‘Nowon Healing Camping Site’ is a leased private camping site located on Hwadong-ro, Idong-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, which opened in October 2018. Covering a total floor area of 13,656㎡, it has 35 camping sites and can accommodate up to 150 people per day.
The camping sites operate in seven types: ‘Bungalow’ with terrace decks equipped with air conditioning and refrigerators; ‘Semi-Bungalow’ without air conditioning and refrigerators; ‘Comfort Zone’ with shade tents and tents; ‘VIP’ with installed shade tents; ‘Two-Family Camping Zone’ for two families to use together; ‘Camping Grounds’ with decks and crushed stone; and ‘Picnic Zone’ for day visitors. Basic facilities such as restrooms, showers, and washing areas are well-equipped, along with convenience stores, swimming pools, and grass sports fields. The wide grassy yard and trampolines make it ideal for families with children.
The surrounding area offers beautiful natural scenery such as Baegunsan Mountain, Baegun Valley, and Heungnyongsa Temple, making it an optimal healing spot to soothe the mind and body tired from daily life. The usage fees are also affordable. Nowon-gu residents or workers at businesses located in Nowon-gu can use the site at half the original price, ranging from 20,000 KRW to 90,000 KRW. National merit recipients and persons with disabilities receive an additional 20% discount. Reservations can be made from 10 AM on the 9th of each month through the Nowon-gu Office website. On weekends, only Nowon-gu residents and workers at businesses in Nowon-gu are allowed to use the site.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
