Exploring Healing Agriculture in Gyeonggi Province
[An Juhyung, Reporter]
Have you heard of the term 'healing agriculture'? When we think of agriculture, we often picture planting and harvesting crops. However, recently, 'healing agriculture' has gained attention for its role in promoting physical and emotional health by utilizing various resources of agriculture and rural areas.
In Gyeonggi Province, various initiatives are being implemented to activate healing agriculture. So, how is this healing agriculture actually being operated in local areas? To explore Gyeonggi's healing agriculture policies and see how it is being utilized in the community, I visited the Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park located in Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang City.
Taking Care of Body and Mind through Agriculture
Healing agriculture is somewhat different from simply cultivating crops or experiencing rural life. According to the "Act on Research and Development and Promotion of Healing Agriculture," healing agriculture is defined as an industry that creates social or economic added value through various agricultural and rural resources to restore, maintain, and enhance the health of the public. It can take many forms, from planting and cultivating crops to gardening, utilizing rural environments, and programs that involve interaction with animals or plants.
Gyeonggi Province is also recognizing the potential of healing agriculture. The Gyeonggi Agricultural Technology Institute operates a healing agriculture team to expand healing agriculture services, foster professional personnel, support healing farms, and develop related programs.
Expanding Healing Agriculture in Gyeonggi Province
Based on the 'Basic Plan for Promoting Healing Agriculture in Gyeonggi Province,' the region is systematically fostering healing agriculture. It is nurturing healing farms and related institutions while developing healing agriculture programs and training professionals to ensure more residents can access these initiatives.
The reason healing agriculture is particularly noteworthy is that it does not view agriculture merely as a production activity. By utilizing various elements of agriculture—such as the process of planting and caring for crops and the experiences of interacting with soil and plants in nature—it provides opportunities for rest and recovery in everyday life.
What does healing agriculture look like in the community? To find out, I headed to the Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park.
Experiencing Healing Agriculture at Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park
Located in Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang City, the Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park is a space where urban residents can closely engage with agriculture.
Upon entering the park, after passing familiar urban landscapes like apartments and roads, visitors can see expansive agricultural spaces and various crops grown seasonally. Notably, the existing 'Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park's garden' will be operated as a 'healing agriculture field demonstration site' starting in 2026.
The Goyang Agricultural Technology Center recruits organizations such as daycare centers, schools, welfare groups, and volunteer organizations to participate in the field demonstration site. This differs from weekend farms that simply allocate plots to individuals.
A Garden as a Healing Space
As I toured the Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park, I observed various crops growing in designated garden plots. While it may appear similar to a typical garden, this space goes beyond just crop cultivation, as it conducts healing agriculture programs that connect agricultural activities with health management.
In fact, in 2025, 26 seniors from the Goyang community participated in a healing agriculture program aimed at preventing chronic diseases. What stands out is that this is not a one-time experience.
This initiative is a continuous project running from 2025 to 2028, allowing the same participants to engage in the program regularly to monitor changes in their health status.
Why Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park Became a 'Field Demonstration Site'
The term 'field demonstration site' might sound unfamiliar. Goyang City is utilizing the Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park as a space for healing agriculture while promoting programs that link agricultural activities with health and psychological assessments.
By applying activities such as creating gardens and planting seasonal crops in actual settings, the effectiveness and potential of healing agriculture are being explored. It is noteworthy that the agricultural experience park is not just a place to observe agriculture but is being actively used to implement healing agriculture.
Connecting Healing Agriculture with Local Communities
During this coverage, I focused on how Gyeonggi's policies connect with local practices. The Gyeonggi Agricultural Technology Institute is promoting policies and initiatives to spread healing agriculture, while local areas operate healing agriculture spaces and programs tailored to their unique characteristics and environments.
The healing agriculture field demonstration site at Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park is an example of how these local practices can be observed. Particularly in regions like Gyeonggi, where urban and rural areas coexist, there are various forms in which healing agriculture can be utilized. By using agricultural spaces close to urban areas, like the Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park, opportunities for citizens to engage with agriculture in their daily lives can be broadened.
Discovering New Possibilities in Agriculture
Walking through the Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park has allowed me to see agricultural spaces from a different perspective. Agriculture is a vital industry that provides us with food, but the process of planting, nurturing, and interacting with nature can also create new value. Healing agriculture connects that value with human health and recovery in daily life.
As Gyeonggi Province continues to expand its foundation for training professionals, developing programs, and nurturing healing farms, we can expect more opportunities to experience healing agriculture in our surroundings.
The Daehwa Agricultural Experience Park is a site where one can observe the aspects of healing agriculture close to urban areas. Rather than merely viewing it as a space for crop cultivation, how about seeing it as a space that connects people and nature while providing opportunities for rest and recovery in our daily lives? I look forward to seeing the next developments of healing agriculture in Gyeonggi Province.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224392937793
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