The forest in May becomes the most fragrant kitchen of all. As you walk along mountain paths, the scent of aralia shoots brushes past your nose, while chwinamul (aster greens) and gondeurae (Korean thistle) capture spring in their pale green hues. Many Koreans still hold memories of seasoned spring greens from childhood, or of warming their hands around a bag of roasted chestnuts in winter. We call these clean forest products and their processed goods — grown in our forests and served at our tables — "Forest Food."
Forest Food is by no means unfamiliar. Fragrant wild greens and mushrooms, chestnuts and jujubes, pine nuts and wild-grown ginseng have long been part of our lives. What has changed is that the scattered value of our forest products is now brought together under the single name "Forest Food," making it easier and more approachable for the public. Forest Food is a category of food that "nourishes me, revives the region, and saves the planet."
Forest Food nourishes the individual. Its greatest appeal lies in the healthy flavor given by nature. A plate of spring aralia carries the aroma and nutrition of the season, while mushrooms and nuts hold the deep flavor the forest has cultivated over time. Aralia shoots, rich in dietary fiber and vitamins, have long been cherished as a springtime health food, and research on the antioxidant and immune-boosting properties of forest products such as mushrooms and chestnuts continues to accumulate.
As interest in healthy food and nature-friendly consumption grows, more Koreans are turning to Forest Food. Even amid busy daily lives, the desire to eat food that is good for the body is universal.
Forest Food revives the region. Consuming clean forest products offers a solution to the regional extinction crisis facing our mountain villages. Across the country, 468 eup and myeon districts within 108 cities and counties are classified as mountain villages, where local residents and forestry workers make their living and find hope. Yet these mountain villages are now rapidly disappearing. It is a painful reality that more than 90 percent of mountain village areas fall into the high-risk category for regional extinction due to aging and population decline. Forest Food is an important resource that can breathe new vitality into these communities. The more the public embraces Forest Food, the more income forestry workers will earn, and the broader the foundation will become for young people to find new possibilities in mountain villages.
Forest Food is also a food that saves the planet in the era of climate crisis. Most forest products are produced without harming the forest, and nut- and fruit-bearing trees such as chestnut and jujube absorb carbon dioxide as they grow while yielding their harvest. Producing food while keeping the forest healthy is ultimately linked to protecting the environment. That is why a small choice to consume Forest Food contributes to preserving forests and safeguarding the planet.
The Korea Forest Service is actively developing the "Forest Food" brand so that every citizen can easily recognize and enjoy our forest products. We are supporting production, distribution, processing and commercialization so that consumers can access Forest Food more conveniently in their daily lives, and we are working to expand sales channels by linking regional distribution with major retail networks. Through various festivals and hands-on events, we are also broadening opportunities for the public to taste and experience Forest Food directly.
Forest Food is more than just food. It is a sustainable choice that keeps our bodies healthy, revives mountain villages, and protects forests and the planet. The Korea Forest Service will continue to pursue policies on distribution innovation, commercialization support and consumer base expansion so that more Forest Food can reach the public's tables.
To create an opportunity for healthy food grown in the forest to naturally take root in people's daily lives, the "2026 Korean Forest Food Festival" will be held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on May 13-14. We hope many citizens will join the festival to taste and enjoy the healthy food nurtured by the forest, and to share in the value of our forests and mountain villages.
