[Viewpoint] What If We Increased Natural Recreation Forests Tenfold?

This year, the autumn foliage news is unusually late. Due to an unprecedented summer heatwave, the first autumn leaves have only just begun to appear in the southern regions. It is said that the foliage will peak from late October to early November in the central regions, and in mid-November in the southern regions. During the foliage season, popular mountains are constantly visited by people. Especially on weekends and holidays, places like Seoraksan and Naejangsan Mountains are so crowded that there is barely any space to step. While the autumn leaves are magnificent, the journey to and from these places can be challenging. Even if not at famous mountains, there are many autumn foliage spots near us. A representative example is the natural recreation forests.

There are a total of 199 natural recreation forests nationwide in Korea. Among them, 46 are national natural recreation forests operated by the Korea National Natural Recreation Forest Management Office, while the remaining 129 and 24 are public and private respectively. The first national natural recreation forest was Daegwallyeong Natural Recreation Forest, established in 1989. Since then, 1 to 2 new forests have been created annually. These natural recreation forests are located in scenic, dense forests including national parks, making them perfect for relaxation. Each recreation forest has different types of trees, and some have landscaping or facilities that highlight the unique natural environment of the area.

Above all, the clean facilities and affordable entrance and usage fees are attractive. For national natural recreation forests, the adult entrance fee is only 1,000 KRW, and children pay just 300 KRW. If you use accommodations such as forest houses, a triple room can be rented for 39,000 KRW. Since 1997, “forest interpretation courses” have been offered, allowing visitors to hear explanations from forest experts. Various programs are operated at each recreation forest, such as Orienteering at Jungmisan (a sport using maps and compasses to reach destinations) and Hanji (traditional Korean paper) experience at Jirisan. Program fees for family participation range from 1,500 to 3,500 KRW. Basic livelihood security recipients, low-income groups, and persons with disabilities can apply for forest welfare service vouchers to use at natural recreation forests and other facilities. This expands the forest as a welfare resource.

There is more good news. On the 27th of last month, a new walking trail was created on Anmyeondo Island in Taean-gun, Chungnam Province. It passes through Anmyeondo Natural Recreation Forest and Ggotji Beach. Walking through the pine forest, visitors can enjoy coastal scenery. This trail is the first western section of the East-West Trail connecting Taean in Chungnam to Uljin in Gyeongbuk. The East-West Trail already has 55 sections in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, and 47 sections in Bonghwa. Following the completion of sections 1 to 4 in Taean, 21 more sections will open by the end of the year. Gradually connecting these paths, by 2026, a continuous 849 km travel route will be completed. It will be Korea’s first long-distance backpacking forest trail. It is sure to become a hotspot for walking enthusiasts. According to a 2022 Korea Forest Service survey, 78% of adults hike or take walking trips at least once every two months. It could even become Korea’s version of the “Camino de Santiago” pilgrimage trail, attracting foreign tourists.

The East-West Trail passes through 239 villages in 21 cities and counties. There are 90 hub villages. Campsites will be established in various locations. These villages are expected to attract young people and outsiders, naturally revitalizing the local economy. It could become a model case for overcoming regional decline.

Forests are treasures created by our own hands. Just 50 to 60 years ago, many of our mountains were barren. Through a national tree-planting campaign, we cultivated the dense forests we have today. For the younger generation, the forests may have always been lush, but the older generation remembers planting trees every Arbor Day. The forests we have created cover 6.6 million hectares, accounting for 67% of South Korea’s land area. How should we preserve and utilize these well-maintained forests? Some argue for leaving them untouched, while others advocate actively utilizing them to create valuable forests. To make forests more economically viable, it is necessary to thin out the trees planted so far and plant new species.

We should increase the number of natural recreation forests and provide diverse services. Imagine if ten times more natural recreation forests with abundant places to rest and enjoy were created. Imagine also having arboretums within 20 to 30 minutes by car. That would be wonderful. Humans need to be close to forests. If humans cannot access forests, it only leads to disconnection. True coexistence is when humans protect the forest while breathing within it.