• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2009

Twenty years have passed since the adoption of natural recreation forests and each forest has its own characteristics. However, there is hardly any classification among the natural recreation forests. The purpose of this study is to classify the forests by considering the supplier's perspective as well as the user's perspective in order to provide fundamental materials for the operation of the natural recreation forests. A factor analysis was conducted to identify the common characteristics of the selected twelve variables by pre-selection and survey of experts. K-means cluster analysis was conducted among those factors to classify the natural recreation forests in Korea. Four factors were drawn after the factor analysis and the factors were named according to the variables and sizes as 'The use performance and visiting condition factor', 'Education and settlement factor', 'Internal activation factor' and 'Potential factor' In addition, the cluster analysis of an $85{\times}4$ matrix was conducted for the points of the drawn factors and the final classification consists of five groups. The results of this study may contribute to providing fundamental materials for the operation and management of natural recreation forests. Also, it may act as a reference when investigating the natural recreation forests of Korea. Proposing the classification natural recreation forests could be helpful in selecting the proper recreation forest in the future. Based on the established model, fundamental materials could be provided to improve the profitability of the natural recreation forests by effectively expanding the number of tourists, creating new natural recreation forests and proper maintenance and management.