Dunamu’s digital garden offers tranquil VR escape

A patient hospitalized at the Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital experiencing VR contents of the Sejong National Arboretum with the Digital Healing Garden. [DUNAMU]

Firefighters who face life-or-death moments every day are susceptible to psychological difficulties such as PTSD, depression and sleep disorders.

While healing programs do exist for these heroes, it is challenging to properly attend to their mental health needs due to the nature of urgent response tasks and a shortage of dedicated personnel.

In May, Dunamu launched the Digital Healing Garden which integrates virtual reality (VR) technology in collaboration with the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute.

The Digital Healing Garden is a project designed to soothe the psychological well-being of firefighters and individuals with mobility challenges. It offers a therapeutic experience with trees without the need to visit an arboretum or recreational forests.

Sejong National Arboretum and the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum have been recreated as VR content.

The Digital Healing Garden has sequentially been introduced at two locations: firstly, Seoul Geumcheon Fire Station, and then at Seoul Rehabilitation Hospital.

At the Digital Healing Garden symposium held on Aug. 10, experts and industry stakeholders noted the innovative nature of the Digital Healing Garden, stating that despite the rising interest in the use of VR technology in the public sector, there have been no similar cases like the digital garden.

"It was so wonderful to be able to comfortably tour like I had gone to the arboretum on my own, rather than being led by someone else,” said a patient who uses a wheelchair due to lower limb disabilities, recalling the refreshing experience.

The digital garden has also provided a new sanctuary for those experiencing psychological trauma due to accidents. "It took me a long time to come to terms with myself after the accident and I could not think of anything else but leaving the hospital,” said another patient. "Strolling through the Digital Healing Garden gradually eased my pent-up emotions.”

Dr. Hwang Han-chan, a senior researcher at Seoul National University's Center of Intelligent Society & Policy (CISP), who presented the results of the analysis of Digital Healing Garden user data, emphasized the possibility of tailoring the Digital Healing Garden VR program to the characteristics of patients, highlighting the potential for further development.

Expectations are building for the future of the Digital Healing Garden, which goes beyond the constraints of time and space to comfort everyone's hearts.

BY KIM SU-HYEON [kim.suhyeon4@joongang.co.kr]