• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.677-690
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• 2019

Recently, the importance and effectiveness of neighborhood forests have been increasing in relation to the quality of life of urban residents. However, there are very few domestic studies that analyzed the correlation between visit characteristics and life satisfaction. Therefore, the study aims to understand how people use the forest for recreation and determine how visit characteristics in neighborhood forests affect individual life satisfaction(ILS). A nationwide survey (N=2,624) was conducted on visit frequency, proximity to forest, means of transportation, forest activities, and life satisfaction. To measure ILS, we used the three factors (personal, relative, collective) of COMOSWB (Concise Measure of Subjective Well-being) developed by Seo et al.(2011). The analysis shows that people usually visit the forest located within the distance of 10-30 minutes from their homes 1-2 times a month on foot for hiking/walking (forest bathing). In particular, the older visitors(over 60s) tend to visit the forest more often than the younger ones (20s). Furthermore, more frequent visitors are more likely to live near the forest. As a result of analyzing the correlation between visit characteristics and ILS by controlling demographic variables, it was found that 'visit frequency' had a positive effect on ILS, and 'proximity to the forest' did not have a statistically significant effect on ILS. In other words, residents who live near the forests are more likely to be satisfied with their lives by visiting frequently. The significance of the study is that it statistically determined that visit frequency is a key factor for ILS. Future studies should take into account the various qualitative factors of forest visit such as vegetation, quantity and types of forest, which will contribute to setting the direction for urban forest development and management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2010

The purpose of this research was to derive political suggestion to increase the demand for forest visit by analyzing the demand of forest visitors, focusing on the residents of Seoul and capital areas. The determinants of demand, which is the number of forest visit in a year, were analyzed by independent variables; six factors from factor analysis on selective attributes, demographic characteristics, and other variables related with the general matters when visiting a forest. As a result, among the independent variables, selective attribute (tourism resource factor), gender (male), and residency (Seoul) were found out to have positive(+) effect on demand for forest visit. However, other selective attribute (external factor of forestry), occupation (white-collar employee), and level of education (over college graduate) were found out to have negative(-) effect on demand for forest visit. Based on these results, implications for the expansion of demand for forest visits were derived.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 1996

The main purpose of this study is to obtain information on users' socio-economic characteristics, pattern of main use activities, and visit motivation in recreation forests. From June to September in 1994, respondents were selected 548 adults more than 18 years old from 6 recreation forests which were classified 3 recreation forest types as 2 recreation forest in national forest, 2 in public forest, and 2 in private forest. Analysis of data was conducted through frequency and factor analysis. The most of noticeable characteristics of users were rather 30's age group, high education level, company workers, city residents. The major preference activities in recreation forest were resting, enjoying green shower, and walking. In 24 items of visit motivation, resting, releasing stress, enjoying in a cool forest & valley, and contacting close to nature were high preference, while buying special product, and contacting close to nature were high preference, while buying special product, having enough and to money, observing wildlife, and training body & mind were low preference. The remarkable difference in 3 recreation forest types didn't present. Eight dimensions of motivation were classified through factor analysis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2018

For the estimation of greenhouse gas dynamics in forests, it is useful to use a model which simulates both carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycle simultaneously. A forest C model, called FBDC, was developed and validated in Korea. However, studies on development of forest N model are insufficient. This study aimed to suggest a development process of a forest C and N model. We analyzed the general features, structures, ecological processes, input data, output data, and methods of integrating C and N cycles of the VISIT, Biome-BGC, Forest-DNDC, and O-CN. The structure and features of the FBDC were also analyzed. The VISIT was developed by integrating forest C model with a N cycle module, and the new model also could be designed by combining the FBDC with a N cycle module. The VISIT and Forest-DNDC could estimate soil $N_2O$ emissions, and the integrated model should include the processes shared by these models. Especially, the overseas models linked C and N cycles based on N absorption, C absorption, and decomposition of dead organic matter. Therefore, the integration of the FBDC with N cycle module should apply this linkage of structures between C and N cycles. Climate, soil texture, and species distribution data, which are essential for the model development, were available in Korea. However, parameter data associated with N cycle and validation data for soil $N_2O$ emissions need to be obtained by field studies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

This study used the results of the 2022 national survey of forest welfare facilities and space users conducted in the Republic of Korea to identify the associations and combination patterns among use of forest welfare facilities and various user characteristics. In addition, a correspondence analysis-namely, a categorical data analysis-was performed regarding four facilities: National Natural Recreation Forest, National Soopchewon, National Forest Trail, and National Healing Forest. The cross-analysis revealed highly significant differences (p < .001) in the age, household income per month, means of transportation, companion type, path to information acquisition, and purpose of visit among the users of forest welfare facilities. Moreover, the results of the correspondence analysis demonstrated that users of National Soopchewon and National Healing Forest were distinguished from users of the other forest welfare facilities based on demographic characteristics such as age and household income per month. In addition, the means of transportation of National Forest Trail users differed from that of users of the other forest welfare facilities. Moreover, users of National Soopchewon were associated with the type of public group visit, acquisition of information from the websites of related institutions and facilities and via online portals, and the purpose of participating in education and experiencing education programs. Therefore, the companion type, path to information acquisition, and purpose of visit on the part of users of National Soopchewon could be differentiated from those of users of other forest welfare facilities. The findings of this study revealed the associations and combinations among forest welfare facilities and the characteristics of users of such facilities, with the scope of utilization of the forest welfare facility user data being expanded via correspondence analysis.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2024

Background and purpose: The anti-aging standard forest healing program (ASFHP), which uses forest therapy, was reported to be effective in improving psychological, physical, and cognitive functions. However, there are several challenges to directly visiting the forest. This study aimed to investigate the impact of multi-session ASFHP with forest visit on the mental and physical health of the older people with visits to forest facilities and compared them with those of the same program conducted indoors. Methods: Individuals aged over 70 years with concerns about cognitive decline were recruited at dementia relief centers and divided into control and experimental groups. A total of 33 people were administered ASFHP under the supervision of a forest therapy instructor. The control group stayed indoors, while the experimental group visited a forest healing center and repeated the program 20 weeks. Results: The multiple-session ASFHP positively affected cognitive impairment screening test (CIST) total scores (p=0.002), memory (p=0.014), Korean version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status total scores (p<0.001), immediate recall (p=0.001), visuospatial/construction (p<0.001), language (p<0.001), forest healing standard questionnaire total scores (p=0.002), and cognitive function (p=0.019), regardless of location. The forest visits during the ASFHP showed positive effects on orientation (p=0.035), delayed recall (p=0.042), emotional stability (p=0.032), physical activity (p=0.005), and health (p=0.022). The CIST scores of the memory domain were the strongest indicator of the multiple-session ASFHP effects. Conclusions: The 20-week multi-session ASFHP with forest visit showed effects on cognitive improvement and physical and emotional stability compared to indoor education.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.1
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• pp.124-130
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• 2011

This study was conducted to find out appropriate model and forecast visit demand of korea national parks using seasonal ARIMA model. Data of monthly visitors uses of 18 korea national parks from January, 2003 to December, 2010 was used to analyze. The result showed that $ARIMA(1,0,0)(1,1,0)_{12}$ model was selected as a appropriate model to forecast visit demand of korea national parks and the result of post evaluation used by index of mean absolute percentage error was accurate. Therefore, the result of this study will enhance reliability and validity of forecasting technique and contribute to management strategy of korea national park.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to statistically investigate the changes in mean differences of the vascular age types and index, heart beating, vessel elasticity, diastolic reserves contents measured by the fingertip plethysmogram before and after the subjects (49 people) visit the Gotjawal forest for two hours. While there is no significant change in the mean differences of vascular age types and index, heart beating, diastolic reserves contents in the control group before and after the visit, the differences in the test groups gets higher than the control group and shows a significant difference. Moreover, the variance analyses of the mean values of the contents shows a significant change after the visit. There is no significant change in the values of vessel elasticity changes between the groups after the visit, but the change of values is significant in the within group, and it is not significant between group by variance analysis. The differences of the heart beating was insignificant in the within group, but significant between group after the visit. In conclusion this study proves the effects of forest bathing, because the HRV index significantly improved after the bathing. Therefore the b-c-d-e/a ratio may be useful for evaluation of HRV.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.203-214
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the types, socio-demographic characteristics, use patterns, and visit motivations of visitors to "Jangseong Pyunbaek Healing Forest (JPHF)." Data were collected from 216 samples selected by convenient sampling method using questionnaire survey between October and November 2016. Data obtained from 476 respondents of the same type of survey during the same period were partly used to examine the types of activities of visitors to the study site. The results showed that 77.0 percent of respondents were categorized as "visitor for recreation" (VR: Those who visit JPHF for the purpose of general recreational experiences such as appreciating landscapes, tourism, social interactions rather than better health or healing). On the other hand, only 10.3 percent of respondents were "visitor for healing" (VH: Those who visit JPHF for the purpose of better health or physical and mental healing). VH showed a higher level of visit experiences to JPHF than VR and tended to expect JPHF as "the place to enjoy calm and natural experiences" more than VR did. VH tended to visit JPHF "alone" more, and their group size was also smaller than VR. About 26.8 percent of all respondents were not aware that JPHF was the "healing forest," and VH showed higher awareness of it than VR. About 66.8% of respondents assessed the managerial and operating states of JPHF positively while only 6.2% assessed them negatively. There was no difference in the assessment of managerial and operating states between VR and VH. The visitors of JPHF showed the markedly high use in main forest roads (use rate: 47.4%) and "Healing Field" (use rate: 59.2%) of JPHF. Regarding the visit motivations to JPHF, VH showed higher importance on "quietude," "health," and "tension release" than VR while VR rated higher importance on "social interaction." The paper discussed the managerial implications, findings, limitations and further studies.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.242-245
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• 2018

Understanding visit motivation to parks is important when attempting to improve visitor satisfaction and their intentions to revisit and recommend. The objective of this study is to not only examine the impact of visitors' motivations on their satisfaction, but also study the effect of their satisfaction on their behavioral intentions. This objective will be fulfilled using regression models populated with data from the Gyeryongsan National Park (GNP). Onsite surveys were collected during April and May 2017 at the Donghaksa, Gapsa, Cheonjeong, Sinwonsa, Sangsin, and Sutonggol information centers of the GNP (N=224). The results of this study indicate that the visitors' motivations influenced their visit satisfaction, which, in turn, impacted their behavioral intentions. The study's findings will help park managers and policy-makers establish effective park management strategies and enhance visitors' experiences.