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The 2025 World Forest Healing Forum (WFoFT) was completed in Cheongju and Jincheon from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30 with the participation of more than 350 people from 35 countries. The forum declared that Korea has become the center of international cooperation in forest healing through an official FAO partnership and the official launch of the Republic of Korea (Jincheon) by an international organization in the field of forest healing. Experts at home and abroad confirm the excellence of the K-forest healing model through academic exchanges and field experiences, and it became an important opportunity for forest healing to become a global core agenda for human health and welfare.

 

The 2025 World Forest Healing Forum (WFoFT) held its opening ceremony on the 27th. Photo by Planet 03

More than 350 people from 35 countries participated, the international spread of the K-forest healing model, and the foundation stone of the ‘International Network Secretariat’

The “2025 World Forest Healing Forum (WFoFT)” was held in Cheongju and Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, for four days from October 27 (Mon) to 30 (Thursday). More than 350 experts from more than 35 countries attended, marking the largest ever, and it ended in great success.

Aiming at the International Spread of Korean Forest Welfare and Healing Model

The theme of this year’s forum was “Forests for Health, Happiness, and Well-being.” The forum aimed to create a global consensus in the field of forest healing and to spread the Korean-style forest welfare and healing model internationally. The forum was jointly organized by the Korea Forest Healing Forum, Chungbuk National University, Korea Forest Welfare Promotion Agency, and Yeungnam National University. It was sponsored by the Korea Forest Service and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which participated as official partners this year, enhancing its international status. Major opening ceremonies and academic events were held at the Cheongju OSCO Convention Center. On-site programs were held at major forest healing facilities in North Chungcheong and North Jeolla Province, including Jincheon Art Fore Arboretum, Saenggeojincheon Healing Forest, and the National Jinan Plateau Forest Healing Center.

“Better production, better nutrition, better environment, better life.”

Kim In-ho, head of the Forest Service, celebrating the World Forest Healing Forum. Photo by Planet 03

At the opening ceremony held on the 27th, congratulatory speeches and welcoming speeches from key figures were followed, and the future direction of forest healing was presented. Kim In-ho, head of the Korea Forest Service, introduced that Korea’s forest healing policy has been systematically developed since it started as a “healing forest” system in 2010. In the future, he urged that forest healing will contribute to resolving social issues such as suicide prevention and strengthen legal and institutional support for the growth of the forest healing industry.

Shin Won-seop, president of the Korea Forest Healing Forum, stressed that the FAO’s official partnership deepened the meaning of the forum. Experts around the world said they hope to become a sustainable partnership by actively sharing knowledge and skills.

Nam Tae-hoon, head of the Korea Forest Welfare Promotion Agency, expressed his significance in discussing ways to improve human health as a co-host. He mentioned that he expects the international spread of forest healing and the solidification of multidisciplinary research cooperation.

Xung Yao-Tang, director of the FAO’s Korea Cooperation Liaison Office, celebrated that forest healing is an activity that embodies the FAO’s four visions of “better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life,” and called for international solidarity.

On the second day of the forum, Jincheon County Governor Song Ki-seop emphasized that the founding ceremony of the World Forest Healing Forum’s International Network Secretariat was successfully realized in Jincheon. Through this, Jincheon County has laid the foundation for its leap into a global forest healing hub city, it said.

Foundation of ‘World Forest Healing Forum International Organization’

The World Forest Healing Forum, which received great results from the founding of the “World Forest Healing International Organization.” Photo by Planet 03

The biggest meaning of this forum is that an international organization that will lead global cooperation and networks in the field of forest healing has officially been launched in Korea. On Oct. 28, the second day of the forum, the inauguration ceremony of the World Forest Therapy Forum International Organization was held at the K Story Creation Cluster in Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. This means that the spirit of the Jincheon Declaration, adopted at the first forum in 2024, has come to fruition with the establishment of a practical international organization in a year. It was a declaration to the world that Korea led the international cooperation framework in the field of forest welfare and healing and has become a center of its continuous operation.

The co-chair of the international organization was Shin Won-seop, chairman of the Korea Forest Healing Forum, and Nam Tae-heon, head of the Korea Forest Welfare Promotion Agency, and prominent experts from the United States, Spain, Canada, and China participated as organizational members to establish a global cooperation system centered on Korea.

An important milestone for Korea to demonstrate global leadership at its core

On Oct. 27, the first day of the forum, there was a presentation on the latest research trends and policies of forest healing at the Cheongju OSCO Convention Center. In the academic session, experts at home and abroad added academic depth by presenting the latest knowledge across a wide range of topics, including recent research trends in forest healing, the case of Nature Prescribing in Canada, and the possibility of garden healing in Europe.

On the second day, October 28, Jincheon-gun prepared a healing concert and a time to experience each country’s forest healing programs at the Saenggeojincheon Healing Forest and Jincheon Artpore Arboretum. In the workshop and experience program, hands-on workshops were held to directly experience forest healing programs in various countries, including Korea, the United States, and Spain, to promote practical knowledge exchange.

Participants continued their practical exchange by sharing their know-how in the operation of the forest healing program based on Korea’s excellent forest infrastructure. In addition, participants in the field visit program visited advanced forest healing facilities in Korea, such as the National Jinan Plateau Forest Healing Center, to personally confirm the excellence of the Korean-style forest welfare infrastructure.

The second forum has elevated forest healing to a key agenda for human health and a sustainable future, and is considered to have marked an important milestone in Korea’s global leadership at the center.

 

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Sources: https://www.planet03.com/post/현장취재-2025-세계산림치유포럼-역대최대규모-35개국-참여-k산림치유-우수성-전세계에-알려