Dr. Won Sop Shin obtained his PhD in Forestry in 1992 from the University of Toronto, and is now Head of the Graduate Department of Forest Therapy at Chungbuk National University in South Korea, where 150 Master’s and PhD students study. He also holds an adjunct professorship in Forest Resources Management at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Shin has over three decades’ worth of experience in research and conducting projects on forest and human health. His main research interests are the psychological benefits of forest and nature experiences. He also works actively with international organizations like the International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine.

From 2013-2017 he served as Minister of the Korea Forest Service (KFS), and Chair of the Committee on Forestry, FAO. During his term, KFS developed many new forest policies relating to using forests for human health and welfare.

PaRx Director Dr. Melissa Lem sat down with Dr. Shin to learn about his formative experiences in nature in South Korea, his groundbreaking research, and how incorporating elements of his cultural heritage shapes his approach to nature and human health.

Can you tell us about your early experiences in nature and how they influenced your career?

I was born in 1959 in a very small village in the middle of the South Korean Peninsula, surrounded by forests and mountains. The forest was my playground—I spent countless hours there, playing hide and seek with friends, imagining new worlds, and developing a deep sense of curiosity and sensitivity. I believe that 80 per cent of my sensibility and curiosity comes from those early experiences in nature. That connection naturally led me to study forestry in university, shaping my entire career.

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You also have a strong connection to Canada. You earned your PhD in Forestry at the University of Toronto and are currently an adjunct professor at UBC. Tell us about your time in Canada and how it shaped your work.

Studying abroad was a dream of mine during university. At the time, South Korea was still developing, and studying in a foreign country was seen as a way to expand one’s opportunities. I chose Canada because it is one of the world’s leading forestry nations. In 1985, I went to the University of New Brunswick (UNB) for my Master’s degree in forestry.

During my time at UNB, I met a professor, Tim Easley, who had just completed his PhD in the United States. His research focused on the psychological benefits of being in forests.

Forestry in Korea was primarily about planting and harvesting timber at the time, so this idea—that forests could improve mental and physical well-being—was completely new to me.

I worked as Tim’s research assistant on a Canadian government project that explored how spending time in forests positively affects people’s psychological states. He was a young scientist at the time, and we had some fascinating experiences together. We even spent a month in Yellowstone National Park, observing visitors and conducting interviews to understand how they felt about their time in nature. That experience completely changed my perspective on forestry and influenced the direction of my career.

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I continued my research on the psychological benefits of forests at the University of Toronto. My supervisor, Lionel Jackson, was in the Geography department and was cross-appointed to Forestry. My PhD dissertation focused on Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario. The Ontario government funded my research, which involved interviewing people who spent weeks or months in a park, and evaluating their experiences and the quality of the natural environment. One of our key findings was that people who perceived nature as pure and high-quality reported greater psychological benefits and overall satisfaction. We published several papers, many of them exploring the concept of self-actualization in nature, based on humanistic psychology.

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From 2013-2017 you were the Minister of the Korea Forest Service. How did that come about, and what forest policies and initiatives did you help develop around using forests for human health and welfare?

After completing my PhD, I returned to Korea and became a professor at Chungbuk National University. I focused on developing new areas in forestry, including forest recreation, forest welfare, and the role of forests in human well-being.

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Traditionally, forestry was seen only in terms of timber and economic benefits, but I advocated for a broader perspective. I had many objections to the status quo, saw the need and took action. I used media channels to highlight these issues, and people resonated with them. There was strong demand from the public for a shift in forestry policy. That, in turn, caught the attention of policymakers. At the time, there was significant discussion both inside and outside the government. But I continued to push for change, emphasizing that forestry policy should reflect public demand. Members of Congress took note because they needed to respond to their constituents. My persistence, along with public support, led to my opportunity to become Minister of the Korea Forest Service.

Once I was in government, I focused on advancing forest therapy and health initiatives. The timing of Korea’s shift in forest policy was crucial. Social and economic developments created a demand for change, and the government responded positively. The Korea Forest Service fully embraced the public demand, and we moved quickly to institutionalize forest welfare programs.

Establishing new regulations took time and effort, but once in place, forest therapy spread rapidly. The government had the necessary infrastructure, workforce, and budget to support it, making Korea a leader in forest welfare.

I was very fortunate. But it wasn’t just luck—it was also about working hard and being innovative.

One of the biggest changes I introduced was the establishment of forest therapy centers across the country. When I started, there were very few. Now, we have over 50 national centers dedicated to forest welfare and therapy. People can access these centers within an hour’s travel, making them widely available. We also prioritized accessibility for vulnerable populations—elderly citizens, low-income groups, and socially marginalized individuals.

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The government provides funding to ensure these groups can participate in forest therapy programs at no cost. Many people can now stay overnight at these centers and benefit from structured programs without financial burden. The central government continues to oversee these programs, and local governments, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government, are exploring urban forest therapy centers to make nature-based health benefits even more accessible.

Forest therapy has been embraced across political lines because it offers clear health and social benefits.

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You’ve spent decades researching the intersection of forests and human health. Can you share some of your most interesting or impactful findings?

Initially, our research focused on the broad benefits of exposure to forests—psychological and physiological improvements, reduced anxiety and depression, and enhanced quality of life. As our studies progressed, we started to examine why these benefits occur. Now, we’re identifying specific forest elements, such as aromas, visual landscapes, and sounds, that contribute to therapeutic effects.

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We’ve taken this research into the lab, using tools like 3D simulations and automated measurement devices to analyze how these elements influence human health. The goal is to pinpoint the mechanisms behind forest therapy’s effectiveness. We’ve already seen significant findings.

For example, various target groups, including students, individuals with alcohol addiction, and others, showed improved mental health markers, including reduced depression and anxiety, after participating in structured forest therapy programs.

Typically, a session lasts two nights and three days. At first, many participants prefer to stay indoors, avoiding interaction with nature. By the second day they start to explore. By the final day they are fully engaged with the forest.

We measure these changes through psychological assessments and physiological indicators like cortisol levels and brainwave activity. The data consistently show measurable improvements, reinforcing the power of forest therapy.

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What's your favorite nature spot in the world?

Yellowstone was my first major experience in the U.S. The area is so vast, and I was really impressed by its scale. The landscape feels very different from the forests in Korea.

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You have a lot of energy for your work on forests and health, and spending time outside contributes to it. What tips do you have for people trying to fit nature into their daily lives?

I think forests should be part of daily life. Research shows that regular contact with nature provides greater benefits. Even small-scale nature—like a nearby park—can be very beneficial for reducing stress in daily life.

Once I was involved in an interesting study with office workers. One group spent 15 minutes after lunch walking in an urban area, while another group spent that time in a park near their workplace. The results were very different. The group that went to the park had significantly greater psychological benefits. They reported feeling more refreshed, experienced increased productivity, and even had lower intention to leave their jobs. So, making time for nature, even in small ways every day, is very important.

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We first met in South Korea at the first World Forum on Forest Therapy, where many of our outdoor nature experiences involved cultural components like music and traditional dance. What role do you think culture plays in supporting people to connect people to nature?

Appreciation for nature and forests depends a lot on culture. In Korea, many people see forests as sacred or even holy. When we developed our forest therapy programs, we incorporated cultural elements like meditation.

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For example, we believe that large trees and stones can have a special energy. During meditation activities, we often use these elements. When entering a forest, guides may even ask for permission before stepping in. In Korea, there’s a strong belief that each forest has its own guardian spirit. We believe that guardian spirits protect villages and even buildings. Every mountain is thought to have its own spirit. Another common practice is stacking stones to create small pagodas—each stone represents a wish or intention. These cultural beliefs and rituals add meaning to the experience and enhance the therapeutic benefits.

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What role do you think health professionals—like doctors and nurses—can play in inspiring people to protect and connect with nature?

Their role is very important because people trust medical professionals. When we first started developing forest therapy in Korea, we collaborated with many doctors, especially psychiatrists. They helped provide evidence that forest therapy has real benefits.

Medical professionals were curious about this field, and once we had scientific validation, the interest grew. Younger generations of doctors in Korea are especially open to these ideas, and we now have many research collaborations. Programs like PaRx are a great example of how the medical field can be involved. Bringing medical expertise into forest therapy has been essential in Korea, and I think it will continue to be important worldwide.

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Explore more of Dr. Shin’s research here.