Children hunt for medicinal herbs at Gyeryongsan in Korean medicine program

Young science enthusiasts and their families ventured into nature Friday to search for medicinal plants and learn about their properties and uses at a hands-on science program.

The Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine held the Children's Herbal Exploration Corps event at Donghaksa in Gyeryongsan National Park, open to elementary school families from across the country.

Launched in 2012, the program is a family-oriented science and culture initiative designed to help children observe medicinal plants in their natural habitat and deepen their understanding of and interest in Korean traditional medicine. This year's event drew 33 families totaling 80 participants nationwide. Online registration on a first-come, first-served basis closed early.

Participants received a safety briefing at the institute's main campus before heading into Gyeryongsan National Park for the exploration. Guided by institute herbal medicine experts assigned to each group, they observed medicinal plants along the trails and learned about their properties and uses. A custom-made illustrated herbal guide pitched to children's level was also used throughout the activity.

After the outdoor exploration, participants toured the institute's Museum of Korean Medicine History, the Korean Medicine Science Hall and the Medicinal Herb Specimen Gallery to build foundational knowledge of traditional medicine. They then reviewed what they had learned through quizzes and recreational activities.

Marking the program's 15th anniversary this year, the institute is launching a new public participation initiative called "Making a Herbal Map Together," an online project in which members of the public can share the locations and details of medicinal plants they spot nearby. The collected data will be used in the institute's promotional materials.

Following the event, a contest will be held in which children can document their exploration experiences through video, drawings or writing. Eight outstanding entries will be selected to receive the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine director's award and cultural gift certificates, and the winning works will be posted on the institute's official social media channels.

Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine Director Ko Seong-gyu said it was meaningful that the Children's Herbal Exploration Corps had consistently been well-received over the past 15 years and had established itself as the institute's flagship science and culture program. "We will continue to draw on our expertise in medicinal herb resources to develop a wide range of science and culture programs for future generations," he said.