Jangheung County's Cypress Forest Woodland Selected as One of Korea's Top 100 Tourist Attractions

"Revitalizing the Local Economy Through Healing and Wellness Content"

Jangheung County in Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim Sung) announced on the 21st that Jeongnamjin Phytoncide Forest Woodland has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Must-Visit Tourist Destinations in Korea for 2025-2026."

The "Top 100 Must-Visit Tourist Destinations in Korea," now in its seventh edition this year, is a project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. Every two years, they select and promote tourist destinations that both Korean citizens and foreign visitors must experience. This year's top 100 list was chosen through big data analysis, such as social media search volume, and a three-stage evaluation by tourism experts, including both written and on-site assessments.

Tourists are walking through the Cypress Forest Woodland. Provided by Jangheung County

Jeongnamjin Phytoncide Forest Woodland, located on the slopes of Eokbulsan Mountain (518m) in Jangheung-eup, is a place where a cluster of cypress trees aged 40 to 50 years spans an area of about 100 hectares. Since 2017, it has also gained recognition as a "Recommended Wellness Tourist Destination" by the Korea Tourism Organization.

Within the woodland, there is an eco-architecture experience center built with eco-friendly materials, a wood culture experience center where visitors can learn about and experience various aspects of wood culture, and a deck road connected to the summit of Eokbulsan Mountain.

The site also features a healing forest, the Phytoncide Salt House?a thermal healing facility made solely with sun-dried sea salt and cypress?along with a subtropical native plant garden where visitors can observe a variety of subtropical species, making it one of the most renowned healing travel destinations representing Jangheung.

To further differentiate the woodland as a unique tourist attraction, Jangheung County is currently undertaking a new nightscape improvement project. Additionally, by establishing shared offices and accommodations as part of a forest healing workation project, the county aims to develop it into Korea's premier wellness tourist destination.

Governor Kim Sung stated, "Through being selected as one of the Top 100 Tourist Destinations in Korea, we hope that more people will be able to enjoy healing and wellness content at the Phytoncide Forest Woodland. Building on this, we will open an era of 5 million tourists, enhance the quality of life for our residents, and revitalize the local economy, in line with the creation of a Nobel Literature City."