The National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon has two surprises in store for visitors. First, visitors are surprised that there is such a deep and beautiful forest in Jecheon. Second, visitors are surprised again by the charm of Korea's unique forest therapy program. If you want to experience a forest therapy program that is uniquely Korean, this is the place! 

National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon

- Address: 590 Hakhyeonsoya-ro, Cheongpung-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 
- Inquiries: +82-43-653-9872 
- Website: https://www.fowi.or.kr/user/contents/contentsView.do?cntntsId=217
Operating hours: Monday-Friday 09:00-18:00; Reservation by phone or in person (one week before the visit) 
Program fees: Individual KRW 5,000 / Groups KRW 4,000 (1-hour regular program) 


	

	
	


Since ancient times, Jecheon has been famous as a “city of oriental medicine.” This is because many medicinal herbs with good healing attributes grow in the area thanks to the blessed natural environment. As of today, 70% of high-quality milk vetch root is harvested in Jecheon. In addition, one of the three major yangnyeong markets in Korea is located in the city. Jecheon is currently being rebuilt into a space of “healing.” The project started after the opening of the National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon in 2020. 
The road to the National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon is quite unique. Follow the winding mountain road along Cheongpunghoban, also called the "inland sea," and you arrive at the middle slope of Geumsusan Mountain. The name Geumsusan means “beautiful as if embroidered on silk.” A beautiful embroidery on a sheet of delicate and soft silk. There’s no other expression more suitable for this beautiful mountain range. When you look up, you can see mountains lined up in layers as if they are wrinkles, and beyond that, it feels like you could grab the Cheongpunghoban with your hand. 
When you step into the National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon, located 540 meters above sea level at the foot of Geumsusan Mountain, the strong scent of the fresh mountain air sweeps over you. Oak and pine trees fills the 61.3ha forest. Don’t let the center’s small scale fool you, because the center at the middle of the forest is complete with facilities such as an herbal therapy room, an exercise therapy room, and a health measurement room. The journey of healing begins here. 

Uniquely Korean Forest Therapy, Found Nowhere Else in the World

The programs at the National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon stand out among similar wellness programs such as forest therapy that you may have heard of and enjoyed so far. The most well-known wellness program at the center is “Hwarinsimbang Forest Therapy.” To reach the origin of this therapy, we have to go back in time to the years when Toegye Yi Hwang was still alive. A prestigious scholar of the Joseon dynasty, Yi Hwang published a book titled Hwarinsimbang, a collection of methods for restoring the health of the body and mind damaged while devoting oneself to academic endeavors. The book discusses a training method called “Geobyeongyeonsuyukjagyeol,” which is a method of taking care of one’s health by making six different sounds and transmitting their vibrational energy to the five major organs. In terms of using sound vibration, it resembles the “Singing Bowl Therapy” attracting attention these days. However, Yi Hwang’s approach causes no side effects because it uses sound waves from your body. In fact, Toegye practiced this method all his life and enjoyed a long life until the age of 70. 
Hwarinsimbang Forest Therapy of the National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon takes place on a wooden deck in the middle of the forest. You can block distracting thoughts by focusing only on the sound inside your body and the sound of the forest on the mat. All participants in the program, including kindergarteners, teenagers, adults, and senior citizens, are highly satisfied afterwards. Last year, one of the U.S delegates visited the center during his visit to Korea to participate in the World Forestry Congress held in Korea. The delegates highly praised the new wellness program, saying it differed from any meditation or therapy he had experienced, and proposed collaboration. The Ministry of Environment also named Hwarinsimbang Forest Therapy as an “excellent program.” 
Sasang Constitutional Tea Therapy is another unique wellness program available at the center. Participants have their own constitution types assessed at the beginning of the therapy (there are four types: So-yangin, So-umin, Tae-yangin, and Tae-eumin). In this program, you can have fun making tea that boosts health based on your constitution type and drinking the warm tea. The highlight of this therapy is the oriental thermal foot bath, which you can enjoy while looking down at Geumsusan Mountain through an open window. The experience itself mends your fatigued body and mind.
If you want a more dynamic experience, “Yin-Yang Walking Forest Therapy” is a perfect choice. After diagnosing each person's walking pattern, each participant stroll around the forest while learning how to walk correctly. The two-hour program flies by in an instant. Using the terrains of the National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon, you can practice how to walk differently depending on the uphill, downhill, and dirt roads. An enjoyable experience throughout. The center even consulted a professor of myology to design this wonderful program.

Forest Trails with Diverse Charms across All Four Seasons

The National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon features numerous trails including “Health Healing Forest Trail,” “Negative Ion Healing Forest Trail,” “Forest Scent Forest Trail,” “Birch Forest Trail,” and “Medicinal Herb Garden.” If you walk on all of them in sequence, it takes an hour and a half hour to two hours to fully traverse their 2 km extension. 
Another must-visit spot is the Health Healing Forest Trail. Walk along the deck path to the left with your back to the center, and after passing through the wooden cave section at the entrance, you will see a space with an unobstructed view of the surroundings. On a clear day, you can even see the Cheongpungho Lake. After passing this section, you can go down to the valley right away through the stairs. In midsummer, some people even visit the place to dip their feet in the valley and rest. 
If you cross the valley from the Health Healing Forest Trail, you can get to the Negative Ion Healing Forest Trail. The trail offers a chance to enjoy a walk while befriending the sound of the valley stream. The Forest Scent Forest Trail is a gentle climb through a dense forest. The view of tall trees surrounding the hiker might be unfamiliar for city dwellers, but it soon becomes a welcome experience. The Birch Forest Trail features dazzling white barks and the Medicinal Herb Garden boasts herbs swaying in the wind on gentle slopes. These trails are suitable for short walks for children and older people. 
The National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon boasts different charms in different seasons; cherry blossoms in spring, wildflowers in summer, and colored leaves in autumn add to the beauty of the forest. Walking and enjoying the sights there become a small joy. If you visit the center in the evening, you can even watch the sun setting over Cheongpunghoban. It is the icing on the cake for your visit to the National Center for Forest Therapy Jecheon. 

NOTE

Select from and Combine 28 Modular Programs 
In addition to the signature programs (Hwarinsimbang Forest Therapy, Sasang Constitutional Tea Therapy, and Yin-Yang Walking Forest Therapy), the center runs various programs such as Forest Harmony, Herbal Healing Forest Therapy, Laughter Healing Forest Therapy, and Meditation Healing Forest Therapy, giving you a wide range of choices. Reservation is required a week before the visit, but you can choose the time and program by contacting the center. Slots for popular programs fill up early, so be sure to contact them in advance. The center also offers a “mountain village experience tour” program that features local tourism spots. It includes a Cheongpungho Lake cable car tour, a cruise tour, and a visit to a rural village and a healing forest. Meals at famous local restaurants are also included. 

Nearby Places to Visit

Cheongpung Cable Car

Cheongpung Cable Car is a cable car that travels along a 2.3 km section from Multae-ri in Cheongpung-myeon to the top of Bibongsan Mountain. From the sky, you can enjoy a thrilling view of Cheongpungho Lake, an inland sea. 
879-17 Cheongpungmyeongwol-ro, Cheongpung-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do  

Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex (Jecheon Museum)

This cultural heritage complex was created by relocating cultural assets almost submerged due to the construction of the Cheongpungho Lake. It is called "the small folk village on the shore of the Cheongpungho Lake." 
2048 Cheongpungho-ro, Cheongpung-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 

Solti Beer

One of the hottest places in Jecheon Jungang Market's Cheong Full Jecheon Mall, Solti Beer is a pub where you can enjoy Solti Beer, a craft beer brewed in Solti Village since 2016. 
108 Pungyang-ro, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 

Uirimji Reservoir

Uirimji Reservoir is one of the must-see sights in Jecheon and the first of the Ten Most Famous Scenic Spots of Jecheon. It is one of the best reservoirs in Korea, built during the Samhan period. 
33 Uirimji-ro, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do