델파이 및 AHP 방법을 이용한 맨발 걷기 숲길 조성에 관한 연구

This study aimed to identify essential evaluation factors and establish priorities for the development of barefoot walking forest trails. We reviewed the extant domestic and international research and assembled a panel of 30 domain experts with relevant field experience. We examined four high-level evaluation categories and 25 low-level indicators via three rounds of Delphi surveys conducted between November 25, 2024, and April 15, 2025. Subsequently, we performed an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis to determine the relative importance of the identified high-level categories and low-level indicators. “Location and topographic factors” was deemed the most critical category, followed by “ecological, healing, and environmental factors,” “route construction factors,” and “facility-related factors.” Attributes such as areas safe from disasters, ease of emergency response, proximity to residential zones, installation of key facilities at the main entrance (e.g., washbasins, footbaths, air blowers, lockers, restrooms, and parking lots), optimal use of existing trails, high population accessibility, and abundant forest therapy resources engaging all five senses were most prioritized among the 25 indicators. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing safety, accessibility, and therapeutic value, minimizing forest disruption, and ensuring integration with nearby forest resources. The results of our systematic analysis of factors related to the development of barefoot walking forest trails are particularly significant because our findings are expected to serve as crucial foundational data for policymaking in this context.