The Chungcheongnam-do Autonomous Police Committee recently operated its 3rd "Forest Healing Camp" at the Yesan National Healing Forest, welcoming 26 autonomous police officers from the province. This initiative was specifically designed to provide a much-needed respite for officers who face intense psychological pressure, high tension, and chronic occupational burnout while responding to various unpredictable incidents and accidents in the field. By immersing participants in a tranquil natural environment, the program aims to facilitate holistic recovery and support healthier, more resilient public service delivery.

Expanding upon conventional forest therapy frameworks, this year’s program introduced dynamic new elements such as forest Nordic walking and wood-burning crafting. These additions successfully bridge active physical conditioning with deep emotional healing. Under the careful guidance of professional forest healing instructors, participants engaged in full-body Nordic walking along scenic forest trails, which significantly boosted their physical vitality and cardiovascular energy. Following the active trek, the officers participated in calming singing bowl meditation sessions, allowing them to release accumulated daily tensions, quiet their minds, and achieve profound physical relaxation.

In addition to physical and meditative activities, the officers took part in a wood-burning craft session, utilizing natural wood blocks to create personalized works of art. This creative hands-on process required intense concentration, offering participants a therapeutic mental escape from routine duties, a fresh sense of enjoyment, and tangible emotional satisfaction as they shared their finished pieces with peers. Building on the success of the first and second camps held earlier in the year, the Chungnam Autonomous Police Committee plans to run a total of four sessions through next month, ultimately extending these vital wellness benefits to approximately 100 autonomous police officers across the region.

Lee Jong-won, Chairman of the Chungcheongnam-do Autonomous Police Committee, emphasized the significance of the program, stating that the forest healing initiative provides officers with a precious opportunity to step away from their demanding duties, recharge their minds and bodies, and recover vital energy. He further reaffirmed the committee's ongoing commitment to developing diverse welfare and psychological recovery programs to safeguard the mental health of police officers and foster a healthier organizational culture moving forward.