Residents can enjoy restorative "rest" in a nearby urban forest — expanding access to forest welfare for all. Centered on the Gwanaksan Healing Center, the program aims to relieve everyday stress and boost well-being through tailored activities including meditation, breathing exercises and aromatherapy.
Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) has launched its "Forest Healing Program — Rest, Therapy," designed to help residents find balance in body and mind by enjoying the restorative power of nature in their everyday lives.
Gwanaksan is widely regarded as an ideal urban retreat, where dense forests, clear streams and quiet woodland paths combine to offer the full healing benefits of nature within the city. The district draws on this natural asset to help residents strengthen their immunity and restore their health through restful time in the nearby urban forest.
Last year, the Gwanak-gu Forest Healing Program drew 2,866 participants and recorded a satisfaction rate of 96.3 percent. Building on that success, the district has expanded this year's offerings to reach more residents across a wider range of needs and demographics.
This year's lineup focuses on making forest healing accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds through tailored programs. The offerings include a customized "Everyday Garden Prescription Program" for senior citizens, youth, couples experiencing infertility, fire department personnel and police officers; "Gwanaksan, To My Growing You" for families; "Gwanaksan, To Me" for individuals; and "Gwanaksan, To Us" for groups.
Participants join certified forest healing instructors for activities including meditation, breathing exercises, aromatherapy and walks through forest gardens, helping them focus on their breath and emotions, release physical tension and find psychological calm. Healing spaces set along the forest trails also allow visitors to engage all five senses — taking in the sound of water, the breeze and the scent of the forest — for a rare moment of self-care amid busy daily routines.
The district hopes the program will serve as a space not only for healing and rest but also for connection and togetherness, as participants walk the forest paths with family, friends, neighbors or colleagues, sharing their everyday lives and emotions and creating lasting memories in nature.
The program runs free of charge through November, every Tuesday through Saturday. It is open to all, and registration is available through the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public service reservation website by searching "Gwanaksan." For group bookings or further inquiries, residents may contact the Gwanak-gu Office's Leisure City Division or the Gwanak-gu Healing Center.
"I hope the green comfort that Gwanaksan offers becomes a warm moment of recovery for residents worn down by the demands of daily life," District Mayor Park said. "We will continue to expand high-quality forest welfare programs so that anyone can comfortably learn to rest and care for their health in the nearby urban forest."
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