Jinan County and Jeonju Polytechnic College produce first graduates from the forest therapy course, with 16 students completing the program.

(Jinan=Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Young-soo = The forest therapy human resource training program jointly conducted by Jinan County and Jeonju College of Technology has borne its first fruits. According to Jinan County on the 13th, Jeonju College of Technology awarded Associate of Arts degrees to 16 graduates of the first class of the Forest Therapy Department. The two organizations established the Forest Therapy Department in 2024 and, in just two years, produced their first graduates. The graduates completed a curriculum that combined theoretical education with practical training linked to industry and academia, and they are expected to engage in employment at public forest therapy facilities or start related businesses based in the region. Jinan has forest therapy infrastructures such as the National Jinan Highland Forest Therapy Center, the National Unjangsan Nature Recreation Forest, the Jeonbuk Forest Environment Research Institute, and the Jinan Education Center of the Forest Association, creating a need for specialized personnel. County Mayor Jeon Chun-seong said, "Jinan is advancing as a forest welfare hub city based on excellent forest resources and healing infrastructure," and "We will develop the forest therapy industry by cultivating the best forest therapy and education experts who are strong in the field."