The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (hereinafter MAFRA) and Rural Development Administration selected and announced six 'rural leisure villages' where people can soothe their tired body and soul from 'COVID-19' and enjoy and get healing in the fresh greens.

❍ The 'rural leisure villages' selected this time are rural travel destinations that offer forest trekking and camping, and have been finalized by the recommendation of local government in each district.

(Gyeonggi) Overcome stress by grilling barbecue on a campground in a healing cypress forest! Chorongi Nest Village in Gapyeong-gun

❍ Chorongi Nest Village, where the natural ecosystem is well preserved, has a trekking trail that lets you get healing from waking along the cypress forest trail full of phytoncide. In addition, it offers natural experience programs including the cypress forest scent pouch making and cotton bud texture play classes, and you can also visit the Nest Automobile Campground, at a 5-minute distance by car. Located about an hour from the metropolitan area, it is well accessible, and it is recommended to visit the Yumyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest and the filming site for TV show, 'Lady' in the area.

(Gangwon) Hoengseong-gun Goraday Village that lets you chill out in the nature of Bongmyeong Fall and forest meditation

❍ Located in the nature, deep in the mountain valley at 900m above sea level, Goraday Village offers freshness of Bongmyeong Fall even in summer. If you want to get closer to the Bongmyeong Fall, we recommend the fall trekking course, available all year round. This trekking in the forest, combined by forest meditation, will provide a unique experience. And there is the slash-and-burn field mud hut experience where the whole family can sit around the fire near the mud hut and enjoy potatoes and sweet potatoes. If you're visiting Goraday Village, the Hoeongseong Lake Trail and Cheongtaesan Natural Recreation Forest are also places to visit.

(Chungcheong) A healing travel destination where you can learn to be with the nature through various programs, Boeun-gun Jalsandae Daebak Village

❍ Located in the clean region of Boeun at the foot of Songnisan Mountain, Jalsandae Daebak Village is an ideal place to visit for travelers seeking the nature and relaxation. Representative programs offered by the village include the Mubongsan forest experience, guard craft and wood burning class. Also, the miniature park next to the village experience center is a miniature model of famous destinations of Boeun. In addition, the nearby Seowon Valley and Samnyeonsanseong Fortress are recommended places to visit if you're looking for the scent of the nature.

(Jeolla) Sinyuto Village where you can enjoy natural fermented vinegar beverage, surrunded by the refreshing nature

❍ Located at the mountain valley of Guksabong Peak at 600m above sea level, Sinyuto Village has thick forests of bamboo and cypress trees and healing forest trails that offer healthy forest experience. The vinegar, made by natural fermenteation for a long time using wild native herbs, has the sweet taste from pine leaf, watermelon and radish juices without using sugar, so that you can taste the subtle sour taste unlike ordinary vinegar. We recommend you chill out in the cool natural breeze, drinking natural fermentation beverage at Sinyuto Village in hot summer.

(Gyeongsang) Haebari Village where you can breathe clean air of cypress forest and learn about the ecosystem of mud flat

❍ Haebari Village combines rural, mountain and fishing villages, boasting spectacular scenery and offering various experiences. It is also famous for a photo zone where you can sit in the cypress forest with a lookout over the dinosaurs, twelve zodiac signs and smurf-shaped holly trees and the vast sea. The on-board fishing experience of catching gizzard in the sea can be an amazing experience for children and adults alike, and offers a chance to become an urban fisherman.

(Jeju) Uigwiri Village where you can horse-ride in the cypress forest and admire the horses and cows roaming in the nature

❍ At Uigwiri Village, where there is an equestrian field in the village, you can learn how to interact with horses and admire the mother nature by leisurely strolling through the cypress forest on horseback. You can also experience harvesting agricultural products such as apple watermelons and apple melons and dyeing blue natural indigo on white cloth or towels. In the village, citrus fruits from greenhouse are sold, and you can feel Jeju island, the home of tangerines, with its body and taste.

Bo-ram Kim, the Director of Rural Industry Division of MAFRA said, "We will continue to discover and promote rural leisure villages so that people who are tired from COVID-19 blue to feel the true charms of rural tourism through beautiful scenery, relaxation and exquisite experience during their stay", and added, "We believe more visits to rural villages from cities will help promote rural and regional economy that are going through hardships from COVID-19, and we urge interest of people and local governments."

❍ Details about the selected rural leisure villages are available from the Korean rural tourism web portal, 'rural travel, Welchon (www.welchoncom)'.