• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.205-216
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• 2018

Objectives: Scientific verification for health effects has been constantly demanded through the forest healing factors. In this study, phytoncide concentration which is one of the forest healing factors, was investigated according to stand density, season and visiting time, and analyzed correlation with micrometeorology factors. Methods: Total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and Natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) were collected using a measuring instrument which is connected to an air pump with the Tenax TA tube. The 32NVOCs were selected through the detailed criteria of adequacy assessment for recreational forest. The statistical analysis (correlation and stepwise regression analysis) was conducted between phytoncide concentration and micrometeorology factors. Results: NVOCs concentration linearly increased according to stand density. The high level showed in the summer (p<0.05), and there is no significant difference according to visiting hours of the Healing forest. NVOCs is a negative correlation with solar radiation, PAR and wind direction, and a positive correlation with relative humidity and temperature (p<0.01). NVOCs increased following the increase of humidity and temperature ($R^2=0.55$). Conclusions: Phytoncide linearly increased according to stand density, and showed the correlation significantly with microclimate factors. In future, these results will be utilized as a basic material to promote the generation of phytoncide, which positively influences human health promotion and manage the forest welfare space.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.4
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• pp.544-552
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• 2020

This study investigated the effectiveness of "Healing Stay in Forest," a long-term stay forest therapy program implemented by National Center for Forest Therapy in 2019 with 49 participants by measuring pre- and post-questionnaire responses and physical changes, such as blood pressure, body composition, and HRV. Results confirmed statistically significant reduction in negative emotions and enhancement of autonomic nerve balance in the participants. Regarding the changes in the evaluation of physical fitness based on medical history, some significant differences were observed in grip strength and standing high jump, in which participants with no medical history showed better results than those with medical history. These findings are important for verifying the effectiveness of long-term stay forest therapy (6 nights and 7 days).

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.915-924
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to conduct a forest healing program for victims affected by the large forest fires of 2017 in Gangneung and to investigate its effects on the stress and physical health promotion of the victims. From January to March 2019, three forest therapy programs were conducted on 49 residents of four villages that suffered forest fires in the National Center for Forest Therapy, Daegwallyeong. The results showed that the degree of stress of forest fire victims decreased significantly by means of these programs. Furthermore, autonomic nerve activity, stress resistance, stress index, and fatigue decreased significantly and average heart rate and heart stability also improved.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.9-23
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• 2024

This study investigates the physiological and psychological effects of a nature-based outdoor activity program in an environment reflecting the characteristics of forest and coastal areas on 30 firefighters (average age: 40.4 ± 9.8 years) who are frequently exposed to dangerous situations. Blood pressure, pulse pressure, and heart rate variability were used as physiological measurement indicators, and the Korean versions of PANAS (positive affect and negative affect schedule), WEMWBS (Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale), and PRS (perceived restorativeness scale) were used as psychological measurement indicators. For four days and three nights, the participants experienced programs at Hallyeohaesang Nature Center and the surrounding mountains, seas, and islands, utilizing forest resources such as trekking on forest trails, walking barefoot, taking aromatic footbaths, meditating in forest oxygen domes, and lying on relaxation chairs, and programs utilizing marine resources such as taking a boat to an island, walking on forest trails with seascape views, and sailing on a yacht. Participants' systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure decreased, and participants' positive emotions increased and negative emotions decreased after the program. There was a statistically significant increase in mental well-being and perceived restorative environment. Through this study, it was found that nature-based outdoor activity programs based on forest and marine resources are effective in physiological and psychological stability of firefighters. It is hoped that the results of this study will be applied to other high-risk workers for PTSD, who have high stress levels, by combining forest healing and marine healing, and expanding the scope and diversity of programs in more diverse environments and conditions.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2020

In this study, we evaluated the effect of the extracts from Lonicera caerulea leaves (LCLE), branches (LCBE) and fruits (LCFE) on the cell growth and migration in human colorectal cancer cells, HCT116 and SW480 cells. LCLE and LCBE dose- and time-dependently inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 and SW480 cells. However, LCFE did not affect the proliferation of HCT116 and SW480 cells. In addition, LCLE and LCBE dramatically cell migration and wound healing in HCT116 cells. LCLE and LCBE decreased β-catenin protein level but not mRNA level in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Furthermore, LCLE decreased TCF4 level in both protein and mRNA level in HCT116 and SW480 cells. However, LCBE decreased TCF4 protein level but not mRNA level in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Based on these findings, LCLE and LCBE may inhibit the cell proliferation and migration through blocking Wnt signaling activation in human colorectal cancer cells. Therefore, LCLE and LCBE may be a potential candidate for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic agents for human colorectal cancer.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.451-461
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• 2017

Korean agriculture has recently focused on the 6th dimension of industrialization, which includes the functions of healing and care. The green care and healing business is one of the most representative models, satisfying modern consumers' needs for care or healing in rural agricultural environments. Many studies have shown physical and social benefits from green care and healing, but studies regarding economic performance are rarely found. The present study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility of different green care and healing farm complexes proposed in recent domestic research, with various possible combinations of business scenarios. The results show that most of the scenarios are economically feasible as B/C (benefit-cost ratio) and IRR (internal rate of return) are 1.19 and 8.53%, respectively, under scenario 1. This study also performed a break-even analysis for providing more flexible decision-making information. Overall, scenario 1 from green care and healing site and scenario 4 from green care and healing cluster are found to be superior to the other scenarios in terms of B/C and IRR. The scenarios in this study reflect the domestic farms or complexes which have similar functions of care or healing. Therefore, the results of this study provide information on practical policies and business implications in making decisions on the specific size and operational patterns when adopting green care and healing complexes by central or local governments and private sectors in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2022

This study investigated the effects of participation in a forest therapy program on ego-resiliency and interpersonal relationships to strengthen the independent capabilities of children requiring protection. The participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group (n=87; age, 16.40±1.90 years) and control group (n=90; age, 16.97±1.39 years). The study was conducted from July to August 2020. The experimental group participated in a forest therapy program operated by the National Center for Forest Therapy, Yeongju, for 2 nights and 3 days, whereas the control group lived routine life. The participants' ego-resiliency and interpersonal relationships were tested at the beginning and end of the forest therapy program. In the experimental group, ego-resiliency was improved and interpersonal relationships were significantly altered. Therefore, forest therapy programs may serve as effective interventions that can positively affect the social adaptation and growth of protected children into healthy adults.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.606-614
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• 2017

This study analyzed the effect of forest therapy program on reduction of stress of teachers and their positive and negative emotions based on the survey of 221 teachers who participated in the overnight Happiness School Edu-healing Camp held for teachers by the National Center for Forest Healing. For data analysis, a paired sample t-test was conducted using the SPSS 24.0 program to examine the difference in the stress reaction index of teachers and their positive and negative emotions before and after their participation in the forest therapy program. The results indicated that teachers who participated in the program showed a significant decrease in the stress response index and the values of sub-domain such as physical symptoms, depression symptoms, and anger symptoms. Moreover, all teachers exhibited a significant decrease in stress. This result verifies that the forest therapy program is effective in reducing the stress of teachers and their negative emotions. These results are expected to be used to promote more active forest therapy programs for teachers exposed to a high level of stress.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2021

Purposes: We studied whether forest bathing is effective in improving the stress of the human body. Therefore, we investigated changes in pulse rate, stress index, and autonomic nervous system after 2 hours of forest bathing on Jeju Samdasu Forest Methods : The study was conducted before and after forest bathing through heart rate variability and questionnaire. Results: After forest bathing, the average pulse rate of the experimental group was significantly increased. The stress index significantly decreased in the post-test in the experimental group. The cumulative stress, sympathetic activity (LF), parasympathetic activity (HF) change, and LF/HF ratio were slightly different from those of post-test in the experimental group, but were not statistically significant. In the survey of job stress average index and state characteristic anxiety index through questionnaire, it decreased significantly after forest bathing (p<.001). Conclusions: The Samdasu forest bathing has been proven effective in enhancing pulse and reducing stress, so it is evaluated that forest bathing is effective in promoting health.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.299-319
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• 2016

The National Forest Inventory (NFI) is important for providing fundamental data for basic forest planning and the establishment of forest policies for the purpose of implementing sustainable forest management. The purpose of this study is to present the development of Korea's NFI including legal basis, sampling design, and measured variables and to review the usage of NFI data. The survey methods and forestry statistics among the Unites States, Canada, Japan, China, and European countries were briefly compared. Total 140 publications utilizing NFI data between 2008 and 2015 were categorized with 15 subjects. Korea has conducted the NFI 6 times since 1971, but only the $6^{th}$ NFI is comparable with the fifth, the previous NFI, because the permanent sampling plots have been shared between the periods. The Korean Forestry Statistics contains only half as many variables as that of advanced countries in Forestry. More researches were needed to improve consistent measurement of diverse variables through implementation of advanced technologies. Additional data for Forest Health Monitoring since the NFI $6^{th}$ must be under quality control which will be an essential part of the inventories for providing the chronological change of forest health.