National Natural Recreation Forests to Operate 'Forest-Connection Week for People in Need'

[Financial News] The National Natural Recreation Forest Management Office of the Korea Forest Service (KFS) announced on the 14th that it will operate '2026 Forest-Connection Week for People in Need' at 39 national natural recreation forests nationwide from the 14th to the 18th of this month.
 The initiative was created as part of practical public administration that people can experience directly. It aims to open public infrastructure to local communities and address gaps in welfare services, given that 83% of the national natural recreation forests nationwide—39 locations—are situated in areas at risk of population decline. Volunteer activities previously carried out separately by individual recreation forests will be conducted simultaneously nationwide during the designated week, providing forest welfare benefits to about 3,000 vulnerable people.
 As a key activity, the office will collect old winter bedding from households of elderly people living alone and people with severe disabilities who have difficulty moving, then sterilize, wash, and dry the bedding at high temperatures before delivering it back to their homes. When the laundry is delivered, technical staff from the recreation forests will also visit the homes to provide practical volunteer services, including checking circuit breakers, replacing outdated lights, and inspecting heating boilers.
 In cooperation with Dementia Relief Centers and senior welfare centers, the office will also provide older adults with forest-healing programs, including brain vitality classes, woodworking activities, and Scandinavian moss frame-making. In addition, a direct-sales market for forest products from elderly and small-scale mountain-village farmers will be held for recreation forest visitors, along with a campaign encouraging people to pledge to practice carbon neutrality in their daily lives.
 Kim Il-sook, director of the National Natural Recreation Forest Management Office, said, "We will make full use of the National Natural Recreation Forests' professional staff and facilities to deliver the warmth of the forest to our underserved neighbors." She added, "We will continue developing programs that promote coexistence with local communities and allow people to experience forest welfare in their daily lives."
[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter