This study examines the forest recreation culture of Joseon intellectuals through the Yusangi (遊山記; literary works on sightseeing along the forest) translated by the Korea National Arboretum among Yusangi written in the 18th century. This study aimed to identify the forest recreation culture of the Joseon period and to explore success factors of the modern forest culture by understanding how the intellectuals saw, felt and responded to the nature by analyzing the content of Korean translation of Yusangi. The contents of the 18th century Yusangi was analyzed according to the 5W1H principle and its meanings were assumed. Specifically, this study analyzed time and reason of visit to nature, activities, their emotional feelings and changes in rational thinking of the people who recorded the Yusangi. Major findings were as follows. Most of the writers of Yusangi were intellectuals who were the ruling classes of the time. The places visited included not only the famous mountain of the whole country but also the local areas where they resided and the areas where they worked as officials. They were often looking for arithmetic to leave the excursion in order for studying mind-set and longevity during their 20s and 30s, or to spare time in their 50s and 60s. Findings from analysis of tourists' behavior as sensory behavior and general behavior included various visual behaviors, such as observing fish in the stream and stars in the night sky, as well as their appreciation of the scenery. In addition, auditory behaviors, such as paying attention to the sound of nature and appreciating musical instruments, and olfactory behaviors were also appeared. Typical activities were poetry writing, water activities, and nature activities. As a result of these behaviors, Yusangi exhibits various emotional feelings and expressions of rational thoughts. Despite moderation of emotional expressions, expressions of delicate emotional thoughts stimulated modern empathy. The tradition of forest recreation as a culture of Joseon intellectuals in the 18th century will be no less favorable to the modern forest recreation culture and will be a good traditional resource for enriching our forest recreation culture.

• Woo-Yeol Kim(Department of Forest Therapy, Graduate School, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea)
• Bong-Ju Park(Department of Horticultural Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea) Corresponding author