The rapid socio-cultural transformations of contemporary society have intensified various forms of psychological and emotional pressure on individuals. Adolescents encounter academic competition and school-related stress, while adults face job instabi...
The rapid socio-cultural transformations of contemporary society have intensified various forms of psychological and emotional pressure on individuals. Adolescents encounter academic competition and school-related stress, while adults face job instability, workplace demands, and repetitive responsibilities within their families—all of which contribute to chronic mental fatigue. In addition, unhealthy lifestyle patterns such as physical inactivity, poor dietary balance, and insufficient sleep further increase the risk of chronic diseases. Environmental challenges, including extreme weather associated with climate change, fine dust pollution, and the recurring spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, have also heightened public vulnerability to physical and psychological health problems. Within this context, “healing” and “well-being” have become essential values in modern life.
As interest in health-enhancing experiences grows, nature-based healing modalities utilizing forests, oceans, and agricultural resources are expanding. In particular, the fields of healing agriculture and healing tourism have gained institutional support through recent legislation. The enactment of the Act on Research, Development and Promotion of Healing Agriculture(2020) and the Act on the Promotion of the Healing Tourism Industry(2025) has provided a legal framework for the systematic development of healing programs and the revitalization of local healing industries.
This study seeks to examine the theoretical relationship between healing tourism and healing agriculture, explore how these two sectors complement and reinforce one another, and identify development strategies through their integration. By reviewing global models of healing agriculture and analyzing their applicability to the Korean context, the study aims to clarify the potential role of healing agriculture within healing tourism. Furthermore, the research explores how such integrated programs may be applied to Goryeong-gun, an area rich in cultural heritage, rural landscapes, and ecological assets that offer favorable conditions for healing-oriented tourism development.
A nationwide survey was conducted with practitioners in healing agriculture and the general public. Of the 230 questionnaires distributed, 203 valid responses were used for statistical analysis. Using SPSS, reliability testing, cross-tabulation, factor analysis, and analysis of variance were performed. The results indicate that healing agriculture programs contribute positively to psychological relaxation, perceived physical health benefits, and overall satisfaction with tourism experiences. Moreover, programs designed to reflect regional characteristics significantly enhanced visitors’ intention to revisit and improved destination image. These findings suggest that healing agriculture functions not merely as an experiential activity but as a core component that deepens tourists’ healing experiences and strengthens the sustainability of regional tourism.
In conclusion, healing agriculture serves as a key resource that can expand the value and scope of healing tourism. Given its rich natural and cultural assets, Goryeong-gun possesses strong potential to develop integrated healing agriculture-tourism programs. If future initiatives adopt customized, participant-centered program designs rather than provider-centered approaches, Goryeong-gun may emerge as a representative model of a sustainable healing industry.