Escape to forest retreats
Hide away this summer in idyllic accommodations at national forests
Korea is a country of mountains, and that's what makes a retreat in its verdant forests in summer exceptionally appealing.
Ahead of the peak holiday season, officials of the National Recreational Forest, a group of 46 forest retreats across the country maintained by the Korea Forest Service, are busy preparing to receive guests coming for peace, quiet and a cabin with a view.
'Summer vacation season for us kicks off in early June,' one official said, adding rooms at guest favorites among the 46 retreats fill up more quickly. The most favored rooms are sought after because of their proximity to the Seoul area, among other considerations.
Last summer, the National Muui Island Recreation Forest in Incheon was the hardest to book, and some of those who were successful said the retreat had exceeded their expectations.
'Stunning sunset views,' Lim Hyo-jung said of her trip last year to the retreat, an hour drive from where she lives in central Seoul.
Her cabin overlooked Hanagae Beach on the western side of the island of Muuido in the West Sea, a vantage point for 'explosive pink sunsets and sea views.'
For Lim, 22, who is a committed cyclist more used to uphill climbs and relaxed descents than shaded strolls, trails around the nearby mountain of Horyonggoksan unexpectedly led her to revisit.
'I thought I hated walking trails. I didn't. I just hadn't liked being crowded when strolling around, because that made me more aware of what's around me rather than what's on my mind,' Lim said.
Buoyant seaside retreat
The National Byeonsan Recreation Forest retreat in Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, was the first among the 46 retreats in the country along the coastline of the West Sea, a difference that makes for an epic coastal trail.
'My personal favorite is the observatory deck looking over the sea,' said Pyo Hyung-min, who traveled west from Daegu, his hometown about a three-hour drive away.
'You can see the sun sparkling on the water and hear the sound of the water splashing,' Pyo explained. Pyo, 45, the father of two preteen children, traveled there last August on a summer trip that included stops across the Jeolla provinces.
Hong Ji-min, 32, said she most liked the living room that afforded an obstructed sea view. All cabins at the Byeonsan retreat boast such windows.
'We didn't feel like going out to actually see the shore, so we left a part of the window open to let the breeze in,' Hong said of her trip last summer with her husband and his family.
Mountains streams
For Kim Han-soo and his two preteen children, giggles and splashing in mountain streams matter more than sea views.
That's why the Kims, who live in Gyeonggi Province, are planning to make a repeat visit soon to the National Daeyasan Recreation Forest retreat in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province.
'For us, children come first, and they like splashing. They aren't old enough to be left alone swimming, which my wife and I wouldn't approve of anyway,' Kim said of streams inside the forested retreat with water levels just deep enough for children to splash about under parental guidance.
'They are everywhere, tall trees by the streams at the retreat. They are a sunshade bringing the summer temperatures down,' Kim added.
The Daeyasan retreat is known for its pine and oak trees.
Breathing in phytoncides, the aromatic tree oils considered therapeutic, while walking the trails lined with oak trees with outstretched leaves and stately trunks is the hallmark of a stay at the retreat for many guests, according to a National Daeyasan Recreation Forest official, drawing on regular surveys of visitors.
Lisa Kim said she was satisfied overall with her recent stay, noting she had found 'nature peace and calm.'
But the Korean American added, 'Cotton mats on hard floors made sleep really uncomfortable. It's such a shame that this place had no better daybeds, which to some could be a turnoff.'
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Korea Herald
24-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Hide away this summer in idyllic accommodations at national forests
Korea is a country of mountains, and that's what makes a retreat in its verdant forests in summer exceptionally appealing. Ahead of the peak holiday season, officials of the National Recreational Forest, a group of 46 forest retreats across the country maintained by the Korea Forest Service, are busy preparing to receive guests coming for peace, quiet and a cabin with a view. 'Summer vacation season for us kicks off in early June,' one official said, adding rooms at guest favorites among the 46 retreats fill up more quickly. The most favored rooms are sought after because of their proximity to the Seoul area, among other considerations. Last summer, the National Muui Island Recreation Forest in Incheon was the hardest to book, and some of those who were successful said the retreat had exceeded their expectations. 'Stunning sunset views,' Lim Hyo-jung said of her trip last year to the retreat, an hour drive from where she lives in central Seoul. Her cabin overlooked Hanagae Beach on the western side of the island of Muuido in the West Sea, a vantage point for 'explosive pink sunsets and sea views.' For Lim, 22, who is a committed cyclist more used to uphill climbs and relaxed descents than shaded strolls, trails around the nearby mountain of Horyonggoksan unexpectedly led her to revisit. 'I thought I hated walking trails. I didn't. I just hadn't liked being crowded when strolling around, because that made me more aware of what's around me rather than what's on my mind,' Lim said. Buoyant seaside retreat The National Byeonsan Recreation Forest retreat in Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, was the first among the 46 retreats in the country along the coastline of the West Sea, a difference that makes for an epic coastal trail. 'My personal favorite is the observatory deck looking over the sea,' said Pyo Hyung-min, who traveled west from Daegu, his hometown about a three-hour drive away. 'You can see the sun sparkling on the water and hear the sound of the water splashing,' Pyo explained. Pyo, 45, the father of two preteen children, traveled there last August on a summer trip that included stops across the Jeolla provinces. Hong Ji-min, 32, said she most liked the living room that afforded an obstructed sea view. All cabins at the Byeonsan retreat boast such windows. 'We didn't feel like going out to actually see the shore, so we left a part of the window open to let the breeze in,' Hong said of her trip last summer with her husband and his family. Mountains streams For Kim Han-soo and his two preteen children, giggles and splashing in mountain streams matter more than sea views. That's why the Kims, who live in Gyeonggi Province, are planning to make a repeat visit soon to the National Daeyasan Recreation Forest retreat in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. 'For us, children come first, and they like splashing. They aren't old enough to be left alone swimming, which my wife and I wouldn't approve of anyway,' Kim said of streams inside the forested retreat with water levels just deep enough for children to splash about under parental guidance. 'They are everywhere, tall trees by the streams at the retreat. They are a sunshade bringing the summer temperatures down,' Kim added. The Daeyasan retreat is known for its pine and oak trees. Breathing in phytoncides, the aromatic tree oils considered therapeutic, while walking the trails lined with oak trees with outstretched leaves and stately trunks is the hallmark of a stay at the retreat for many guests, according to a National Daeyasan Recreation Forest official, drawing on regular surveys of visitors. Lisa Kim said she was satisfied overall with her recent stay, noting she had found 'nature peace and calm.' But the Korean American added, 'Cotton mats on hard floors made sleep really uncomfortable. It's such a shame that this place had no better daybeds, which to some could be a turnoff.' siyoungchoi@
Korea Herald
24-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Escape to forest retreats
Hide away this summer in idyllic accommodations at national forests Korea is a country of mountains, and that's what makes a retreat in its verdant forests in summer exceptionally appealing. Ahead of the peak holiday season, officials of the National Recreational Forest, a group of 46 forest retreats across the country maintained by the Korea Forest Service, are busy preparing to receive guests coming for peace, quiet and a cabin with a view. 'Summer vacation season for us kicks off in early June,' one official said, adding rooms at guest favorites among the 46 retreats fill up more quickly. The most favored rooms are sought after because of their proximity to the Seoul area, among other considerations. Last summer, the National Muui Island Recreation Forest in Incheon was the hardest to book, and some of those who were successful said the retreat had exceeded their expectations. 'Stunning sunset views,' Lim Hyo-jung said of her trip last year to the retreat, an hour drive from where she lives in central Seoul. Her cabin overlooked Hanagae Beach on the western side of the island of Muuido in the West Sea, a vantage point for 'explosive pink sunsets and sea views.' For Lim, 22, who is a committed cyclist more used to uphill climbs and relaxed descents than shaded strolls, trails around the nearby mountain of Horyonggoksan unexpectedly led her to revisit. 'I thought I hated walking trails. I didn't. I just hadn't liked being crowded when strolling around, because that made me more aware of what's around me rather than what's on my mind,' Lim said. Buoyant seaside retreat The National Byeonsan Recreation Forest retreat in Buan-gun, North Jeolla Province, was the first among the 46 retreats in the country along the coastline of the West Sea, a difference that makes for an epic coastal trail. 'My personal favorite is the observatory deck looking over the sea,' said Pyo Hyung-min, who traveled west from Daegu, his hometown about a three-hour drive away. 'You can see the sun sparkling on the water and hear the sound of the water splashing,' Pyo explained. Pyo, 45, the father of two preteen children, traveled there last August on a summer trip that included stops across the Jeolla provinces. Hong Ji-min, 32, said she most liked the living room that afforded an obstructed sea view. All cabins at the Byeonsan retreat boast such windows. 'We didn't feel like going out to actually see the shore, so we left a part of the window open to let the breeze in,' Hong said of her trip last summer with her husband and his family. Mountains streams For Kim Han-soo and his two preteen children, giggles and splashing in mountain streams matter more than sea views. That's why the Kims, who live in Gyeonggi Province, are planning to make a repeat visit soon to the National Daeyasan Recreation Forest retreat in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. 'For us, children come first, and they like splashing. They aren't old enough to be left alone swimming, which my wife and I wouldn't approve of anyway,' Kim said of streams inside the forested retreat with water levels just deep enough for children to splash about under parental guidance. 'They are everywhere, tall trees by the streams at the retreat. They are a sunshade bringing the summer temperatures down,' Kim added. The Daeyasan retreat is known for its pine and oak trees. Breathing in phytoncides, the aromatic tree oils considered therapeutic, while walking the trails lined with oak trees with outstretched leaves and stately trunks is the hallmark of a stay at the retreat for many guests, according to a National Daeyasan Recreation Forest official, drawing on regular surveys of visitors. Lisa Kim said she was satisfied overall with her recent stay, noting she had found 'nature peace and calm.' But the Korean American added, 'Cotton mats on hard floors made sleep really uncomfortable. It's such a shame that this place had no better daybeds, which to some could be a turnoff.'
Korea Herald
01-03-2025
- Korea Herald
Time to talk it out -- at a sauna
Finnish barrel saunas pick up steam as alternative to bathhouses GWANGJU, Gyeonggi Province -- Saunas aren't just a toasty respite. That's according to Oh Seung-youl, one of the local entrepreneurs who have capitalized on barrel saunas -- an outdoor activity involving a wood stove with small rocks, a changing room and most importantly, something to snack on. 'The barrel sauna is like a heat therapy. It's warm enough to open us up physically, with a better blood flow, as well as mentally as relaxation renders a candid talk much easier,' Oh, a man in his 50s, said of his yearslong observation of people frequenting his Inside Finnish Forest in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Since 2022, Inside Finnish Forest has operated as a cafe with giant sauna barrels, five in total, each accommodating between four and eight guests for a two-and-a-half-hour session, three times a day. Reservations fill up quickly, especially in winter when Seoulites seek a nearby warm escape. 'Proximity was our No. 1 concern in deciding where to go,' said Yoon Myung-soo, a Seoulite who lives in Gangnam-gu. The less than an hour drive to Inside Finnish Forest is 'a definite plus,' making it a clear winner among similar facilities in the Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces. They all promote a 'Finnish sauna' experience, a trend increasingly picking up steam. For Yoon, travel distance mattered the most because he was the driver; his wife's priority was post-sauna snacks. What they both wanted, however, was 'a genuine but casual talk' in a setting that boosts intimacy, according to the couple. 'The online reviews of this place were pretty good, talking about the kind of private space that we thought of, decent and not too shabby,' Yoon said. It is hard to concentrate on each other when talking over a meal, according to Yoon and his wife, surnamed Heo. 'I like how snacks here like bagels are above average, to my taste at least,' Heo said of her satisfaction in having picked 'the right place to rejuvenate and have a talk.' At an extra cost, guests can have sweet potatoes and sweet rice drinks called sikhye while inside the sauna. For many, health concerns were the primary reason for coming out for the sauna. 'I used to like relaxing in a hot tub because you could feel your aches ease immediately once you get in the water,' said Pyo Jung-jin, a sauna enthusiast who attributed the switch to sauna to his suspicion that bubbly spa tubs may not be as germfree as they looked to his naked eyes. 'It's nearly impossible to clean inside the jet spray pipes, like bacteria, which would be everything antithetical to a therapeutic break I want,' Pyo said, adding there is no water quality to maintain in barrel saunas. Sprinkling water on the rocks on the stove is all it takes to raise the temperature and humidity inside the sauna barrel, a convenience Pyo doubts will have adverse health effects. The temperature inside the saunas averages 80 degrees Celsius, twice that of typical hot tubs, another feature Pyo says appeals to sauna enthusiasts seeking intense heat. Oh, the Inside Finnish Forest owner, testifies to the quality of light-colored wood each sauna barrel is made of, which can withstand wide fluctuations in heat and humidity. Red cedar and pine are used to build a single barrel, which Oh says is worth at least ten million won ($7,000). The barrels made at a factory he runs nearby are sold to sauna facilities nationwide. Expanding the distribution network wasn't what motivated Oh, however. He recalled his many trips to Finland, a country known for saunas, that inspired his shop. 'Even apartment units come with a built-in sauna,' Oh said of the ubiquity of saunas in Finland and how a sauna means more than an escape from freezing winter. 'I'm after building a culture,' he said, 'where people come together to talk about anything, light to heavy, and bond while doing it.' Saunas will lead the way, he added with a radiant smile.
