To provide consistent air purification benefits from urban forests, it is crucial to identify common characteristics that allow for similar experimental setups. This study aimed to analyze $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ concentrations in urban forests near pollution sources and understand their mitigation effects. Data from the Asian Initiative for Clean Air Networks, Korea, were used, focusing on three urban forests adjacent to road and industrial pollution sources in Korea, with $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ concentrations collected during 2021. Considering high $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ concentrations during winter and spring, these seasons were divided into two sub-periods, resulting in six seasonal periods for analysis. To address the right-skewed $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ distribution and reduce outlier influence, the Kruskal–Wallis test was used. The results showed that “good” $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ levels were lowest in early spring, increasing to a peak in summer before declining. High $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ events were concentrated in spring, early spring, and early winter. The Kruskal–Wallis test indicated lower median $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ concentrations in urban forests compared to pollution sources in the latter half of the year, while no significant median differences were found in the first half. Distribution visualizations further confirmed that even during high $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ periods, all urban forests showed lower $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ values compared to pollution sources. In conclusion, $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{10}$ concentrations in urban forests were consistently lower than in pollution sources across all seasons, demonstrating their effectiveness in air purification at both road and industrial pollution sources. Future research should consider additional variables, such as $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{2.5}$, to further explore differences between pollution sources.

Background and objective: The cancer survival rate in Korea exceeds 70%, but approximately two million people experiencing cancer face difficulties returning to daily life owing to a lack of appropriate psychological support, leading to depression, anxiety, and fear of recurrence. Despite the achievements of forest therapy, there is a dearth of research, particularly regarding its effects on people experiencing cancer. Therefore, this study examined the psychological effects of forest therapy using highly accessible urban forests after cancer treatment.Methods: The study was conducted between April 11 and June 9, 2023, with 28 participants who had completed cancer treatment and could engage in outdoor activities without difficulty. They were divided into two groups: experimental and control. The experimental group received forest therapeutic program interventions in an urban forest once a week for 8 weeks. To measure the difference in the intervention effects between the two groups, pre-, mid-, and post-assessments were conducted using the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.Results: People experiencing cancer who participated in the urban forest therapeutic program had significantly reduced depression and anxiety than those in the no-treatment group. The experimental group's sleep quality also improved after participating in the program.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that urban forest therapy can alleviate psychological difficulties in people experiencing cancer. These results suggest the need for further research into urban forest therapy as an intervention to improve the quality of life of people experiencing cancer.

Background and objective: This study reviewed forest therapy program studies by applying the scoping review methodology to provide recommendations for future research and basic data for the development of forest therapy programs.Methods: Data collection was conducted from April 1 to 5, 2022 using South Korean literature databases (RISS, KISS, Science ON, DBpia) and international literature databases (SCOPUS, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE). Focusing on papers published by March 31, 2022, while considering the publication year, we finally selected 118 papers (99 from South Korea and 19 from other countries).Results: Starting with the first study in 1996, research in South Korea was conducted in earnest since 2006. The study subjects primarily comprised those who were vulnerable to stress, such as office and labor workers, children at community child care centers, and families of patients, followed by mental health and physical patients. In terms of program characteristics, the site types primarily included general forests and forest welfare facilities, and in terms of seasons, summer accounted for the highest proportion, followed by spring and fall, which showed similar proportions. The programs primarily included one-day multiple-session and lodging types. Upon examining the structure of the programs, we observed that the majority of lodging type programs were 3 days and 2 nights programs and 2 days and 1night programs. In contrast, one-day multiple-session programs were primarily conducted in a once-a-week cycle, with 6 to 10 sessions.Conclusion: Through the results of this study, we examined the current status and scope of forest therapy program research. The findings are expected to be used as a basis for expanding forest therapy program research to collaborate with stakeholders in the health and medical fields in the future.

Background and objective: This study aims to determine the effects of forest activities, such as forest meditation and forest experience, on young children's sleep and problematic behaviors and to compare the changes that occur according to the type of forest activity.Methods: Fifty-nine five-year-old children from early childhood education institutions in Cheongju City, Korea, participated. The experiment took place over five weeks between May 3 and 31, 2022. Activities were conducted twice a week for a total of eight sessions. The forest meditation and forest experience groups carried out activities in the forest. The control group carried out thematic activities according to the Nuri curriculum followed by early childhood education institutions. The Korean version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire was used to assess the participants' sleep duration and sleep habits, and the Korean Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 was used to assess problematic behaviors.Results: We found a statistically significant increase in the average sleep duration of the children in the meditation group, as well as a statistically significant decrease in their total sleep habits score and the scores of the bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, and sleep anxiety subdomains of sleep habits. A statistically significant decrease was observed in the forest experience group's scores for total problematic behaviors and internalizing problems. We also found a statistically significant positive correlation between sleep habits and problematic behaviors.Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that static activities, such as forest meditation activities, increase sleep duration and improve sleep habits, while dynamic activities, such as forest experience activities, improve problematic behaviors and internalizing problems. Providing specific programs that appropriately utilize static and dynamic forest activities can help improve sleep and problematic behaviors in young children.