Background and objectives: Forest environments provide various healing benefits for humans and have been widely studied. Nevertheless, the field of forest management for forest healing remains relatively understudied. The purpose of this study is to utilize thermal environmental simulation to derive forest management scenarios that are optimized for forest healing. Methods: This study focused on the Seogwipo Experimental Forest on Jeju Island, Korea. Three-dimensional forest models were generated based on field surveys. Thermal environment simulations were conducted using Grasshopper with the Ladybug and Honeybee plug-ins, and the thermal comfort levels of six forest management scenarios were evaluated using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Results: The simulation results showed that, among all the scenarios, only scenario (c), “10% thinning in the buffer zone”, led to an improvement in thermal comfort. Additionally, the study identified discrepancies in thermal comfort between different forest management scenarios. Conclusions: In the management of forests for healing forestry purposes, the distinction of forest zones by use and the application of different forest management scenarios have thermal comfort implications. Thus, the methodology could be employed in forest management for forest healing purposes.

Forest welfare services are public services derived from forests that contribute to physical, emotional, and social health, ultimately aiming to improve quality of life. This study aimed to empirically analyze the qualifications of forest welfare professionals and their perceptions of social services. An online survey was conducted with 752 certified forest welfare professionals in South Korea. Frequency, cross-tabulation, and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify key factors affecting their perceptions, including experience with social service provision, understanding of social services, and the perceived need for integration. Results showed that approximately 54% had experience providing social services, and statistically significant differences were found in perceived barriers and sustainability factors based on experience. Mental health improvement was identified as the most expected benefit of social service provision, with low-income individuals and people with disabilities recognized as key target groups. Regression analysis revealed that age, additional qualifications, and experience significantly affected understanding of social services, particularly experience. However, only social service experience significantly influenced the perception of the need for integration between forest welfare and social services. Qualification type and forestry employment status had no significant effect. This study clarifies how professional experience and certification backgrounds of forest welfare specialists influence their perceptions of social services. Based on these findings, the study provides an empirical foundation for exploring the potential expansion and integration of forest welfare services. These findings offer valuable guidance for practitioners and policymakers seeking to enhance forest service effectiveness and sustainability.

This paper proposes an implementation framework for the effective linkage and integration of forest welfare services within the social service system. Focus group interviews (FGIs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with experts in social and forest welfare, and key components were identified through thematic analysis. The findings identified socially isolated youths, middle-aged adults, and social workers as the primary target groups. Limited accessibility is a central challenge for socially isolated youth, necessitating a phased engagement approach. Middle-aged adults demonstrated a strong need for psychological recovery and social participation, yet faced constraints related to time, cost, and accessibility, underscoring the importance of community-based delivery. Social workers were identified as being at a high risk of burnout, and forest welfare services were recognized as potential preventive and complementary interventions. Based on these findings, an implementation framework comprising three core entities—support, delivery, and supply— was structured across four dimensions: user characteristics, delivery systems, service operations, and policy environments. The key conditions for effective integration include institutional foundations, accessibility enhancement, interagency collaboration, and expansion of the private service base. This study explores the potential for forest welfare services to evolve into sustainable components of the public social service system. Future research should empirically examine the causal mechanisms underlying associated health and social outcomes.