The Korea Forest Service announced on the 1st the selection of the ‘Top 10 Urban Forests for Walking’, where citizens can enjoy a comfortable walk under the shade of trees as the heat approaches.
The urban forests introduced this time are selected from the ‘Top 50 Excellent Urban Forests’ chosen last year. These forests are large-scale and densely wooded for good access. The selected urban forests include △ Namsan Park Urban Forest (Gangbuk-gu, Seoul) △ Blue Arboretum Urban Forest (Guro-gu, Seoul) △ Geumgang Park Urban Forest (Dongnae-gu, Busan) △ Duryu Park Urban Forest (Dalseo-gu, Daegu) △ Mansusan Barrier-Free Urban Forest (Namdong-gu, Incheon) △ Pyeongtaek Wind Path Forest (Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi) △ Wansan Park Flower Hill (Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do) △ Wolmyeong Park Urban Forest (Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do) △ Juknokwon-Gwanbangje Forest (Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do) △ Songdo Pinewood Urban Forest (Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do), among others.
According to the Korea Forest Service, urban forests absorb carbon dioxide and release moisture to cool down the air. In summer, they can be 3 to 7 degrees cooler than the average midday temperature, offering natural shade shelters and providing cooler spaces compared to artificial structures like buildings. A 2023 study by Kyungpook National University’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation confirms that larger urban forests have a greater cooling effect.
Choi Young-tae, Director of the Forestry Protection Bureau at the Korea Forest Service, stated, “As heatwaves become a regular part of life, urban forests are essential facilities for citizen health and rest. We hope you will visit the nearest urban forest to cool down and maintain your health through a walk.”