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| July 24th, 2024 Korea Wellness News |
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we explore the exciting developments in Korea Wellness as of July 24th, 2024.
Renowned for its innovation and holistic approach, Korea Wellness continues to set the pace in the global wellness industry.
In this post, we delve into the nation's newest AI-driven health monitoring systems, offering real-time insights that empower individuals to take charge of their well-being.
We also highlight the booming Korea Wellness tourism sector, attracting global visitors eager to experience traditional Korean practices like Hanbang and modern wellness retreats.
Furthermore, we discuss the government's increased funding for mental health services, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to wellness that includes mental, physical, and emotional health.
Join us as we uncover how Korea Wellness is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, setting a global standard.
Whether you're a wellness enthusiast, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about innovative health practices, this post provides valuable insights into the future of Korea Wellness.
Read on to discover how Korea Wellness is shaping the world of wellness today.
Active seniors, wellness and fashion are shifting consumer trends
Active seniors are an important segment of the fashion and food market, as they have the financial wherewithal to spend vigorously. This is a group of people aged 55 to 69 who have finished raising children and are investing time and money in themselves. They are particularly active in fashion and wellness.
In fashion, there is a growing interest in casual wear and designer brands. Recently, fashion platforms Mushin and Posti have seen a surge in active senior usage, making them a big player in the market. On Moushinsa, the proportion of customers in their 60s has increased eightfold year-on-year, and on Posti, the number of customers in their 60s has increased by 129 per cent.
In the food market, active seniors are also a big spending force. According to global consumer market analytics firm Kantar, active seniors spent an average of KRW 3.11 million on food in the past year, 13.3 per cent more than other households. Unlike past senior generations, they have active and proactive consumption patterns.
They are also increasingly interested in self-improvement, including education and exercise. Kyoomon Group has launched Kumon Active Life, a study guide for seniors, and edtech company Pledo offers AI-based senior learning materials to help improve cognitive function. Healthcare company Jinam also operates a service that provides personalised healthcare solutions through the analysis of personal health indicators.
By 2029, the 55-69 age group is expected to account for 24.7 per cent of the total population, and the spending power of active seniors will become increasingly important. The importance of the active senior market is expected to continue to expand in the future.
Jeungpyeong-gun attracts attention at international tourism fairs by promoting wellness destinations
Jipyeong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, participated in the 'Korea International Tourism Expo 2024' held at KINTEX in Ilsan from the 19th to the 22nd to promote tourist attractions in Jipyeong, including wellness destinations. A total of 217 exhibitors, including 119 local governments from across the country, participated in the fair, sharing various tourism contents and travel information.
More than 440 promotional pavilions were operated at the fair, which was visited by visitors from the first day of the event, showing strong interest in tourism contents. Jeungpyeong-gun actively promoted various tourism resources such as Belfore Resort, Jwagusan Recreation Land, Bicycle Park, and Jeungpyeongin Samgol Festival, which attracted the attention of participants.
In particular, Jwagusan Recreation Land has been selected as an excellent wellness tourist destination designated by the Korea Tourism Organization for three consecutive times, and is known as a representative tourist destination with various facilities such as the Jwagusan Observatory and the Meditation Cloud Bridge. Belforte Resort is a family-friendly leisure complex with the country's first international standard karting stadium, Belforte CC, luge, and more, and has become very popular in the central region.
In addition, the Ginseng Gol Festival was selected as one of the 100 K-Culture Tourism Events by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the bicycle park offers visitors a unique experience with its fairytale-like colours. During the fair, Jeungpyeong-gun hosted additional events on the Jwagusan Observatory's KakaoTalk channel, as well as a racing kart exhibition and photo zone at Belfore Resort.
In addition, visitors who donated to the Hometown Love Donation Scheme were given a voucher for a stay at Belleforest Resort to promote the programme. "We hope that the charm of Jeungpyeong will be widely known and many tourists will visit Jeungpyeong through this fair," said Ahn Jae-young. "We will continue to actively utilise Jeungpyeong's tourism resources to develop and promote unique contents."
Seorhaewon with Wellness Unveils 3 Tailored Programmes for Summer Holidays
Seorhaewon, Gangwon-do, has unveiled a special summer programme for the 'three generations' for the summer holiday season. Seorhaewon's wellness programme is attracting attention as an ultra-exclusive event that can be enjoyed by the whole family with different 'waters'.
Seorhaewon's 'Heal & Chill' Wellness Evening Party is a special programme for parents. The hot spring water in Seorhaewon Pool was formed by the seepage of rainwater between gneiss 1.9 billion years ago and granite 230 million years ago, and is the first in Korea to be supplied by direct hot spring water. A 'Heal & Chill' party combining DJs and gong sound baths will be held in these waters on Saturday 3 August from 6pm to 8pm, and is open to guests regardless of whether they are staying at Seorhaewon. The programme offers a new world of meditation through the harmony of sound and hot spring water, and is the essence of healing and wellness.
For children, the 'Seorhaewon Kids Golf Class' is conducted through the 'Snag Golf' programme, which was developed based on the experience of PGA Tour professionals. Children aged 5 to 11 years old can learn the basic stance and swing of golf in a playful way with a professional instructor. You don't need to be staying at Seorhaewon to take part in the programme, which is also suitable for children who are new to golf.
Last but not least, Menabrea Beer, a premium Italian beer brewed with clean hard water from the Alps, is available in both draught and canned Pils Lager. Menabrea Beer is served with Seorhaewon's Folded Pork Wrap to enjoy the flavours of Italy. This is a unique opportunity that can only be experienced at Seorhaewon for a limited time this summer.
Seorhaewon's summer programme offers a wide range of wellness experiences for the whole family, and we recommend making special memories at Seorhaewon this summer.
NYLORA brings wellness to Jeju with a pop-up store at JW Marriott Jeju
NYLORA has opened a pop-up store at JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, offering a unique space that combines wellness and nature. The pop-up store fully captures the natural beauty of Jeju Island, including Jeju Olle Course 7 and Eodolgae, and provides an opportunity to communicate NYLORA's wellness brand philosophy directly to customers.
The pop-up store's sophisticated design reflects the natural and traditional beauty of Jeju, and offers customers who are looking for a balanced lifestyle the opportunity to experience Nailora's range of products. The pop-up store showcases a wide range of products, from the brand's core products to active wear and new spring-summer 2024 products, making them more accessible to customers in Jeju.
On the 19th and 20th of this month, wellness influencers and JW Marriott Jeju guests were invited to join yoga classes with yoga and meditation instructor Coach Audrey. The classes provided a unique opportunity to find balance between body and mind, and participants were able to experience Nailora's products first-hand and gain a better understanding of the brand.
Nailora's pop-up store at JW Marriott Jeju is located in the Drawing Room at JW Marriott Jeju and will run until 30 September. The space offers a unique experience that combines wellness and nature, and provides an opportunity to experience the Nilora brand philosophy in action.
Wellness and sports tech collaborate to drive joint campaign between Yanadu and Mula
Yanadu announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mula to launch a range of joint marketing activities combining wellness and sports technology. Through this agreement, the two companies will conduct comprehensive marketing projects utilising Yanadu's sports technology brand 'Yapit' and Mulla's athleisure brand 'Mulla Wear'.
Specific plans include the formation of a task force to create joint brand campaigns, advertisements on online platforms, offline store productions, pop-up store collaborations, and wellness festivals. These multi-faceted activities aim to create synergies in the wellness and sports tech sectors by leveraging the service infrastructure and platforms of both companies.
"This collaboration will combine our AI sports-tech-based platform with the fashion platform of Korea's first athleisure brand, Mula Wear, to provide customers with a healthy lifestyle and contribute to creating a culture of wellness and leisure sports," said Kim Jeong-soo, CEO of Yanadu. Mula is a healthy living athleisure brand that is expanding its business portfolio by enhancing its product line with leggings and more.
Yanadu has entered the home training market with YFITCYCLE, based on its know-how in the education market, and is rapidly expanding its business from edtech to sportstech. The collaboration between the two companies aims to grow as an AI-based sports and edtech company, with plans to go public.
Jeungpyeong County attracts attention at Korea International Tourism Fair for its wellness and tourism resources
Jipyeong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, participated in the Korea International Tourism Expo 2024, held at KINTEX in Ilsan from 19 to 22 November, actively promoting the county's wellness and tourist attractions, attracting great interest from domestic and international visitors. A total of 217 exhibitors, including 119 local governments in Korea and 98 overseas, participated in the fair, introducing various tourism contents and travel information.
At the event, Jeungpyeong-gun showcased the charms of local tourism, including Belfore Resort, Jwagusan Recreation Land, Bicycle Park, and the Jeungpyeongin Samgol Festival. In particular, Jwagusan Recreation Land has been selected as an excellent wellness tourism destination by the Korea Tourism Organization for the third consecutive time, and has various facilities such as the Jwagusan Observatory with the largest 356-metre refracting telescope in Korea, a meditation cloud bridge, and a tightrope walk. Belforte Resort is the largest recreational leisure complex in the central region, including the country's first international standard karting stadium, Belforte CC, luge, and sheep farm.
In addition, the Ginseng Gol Festival, which was selected as one of the 100 K-Culture Tourism Events by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the colourfulness of the bicycle park have received great response from visitors. The county also attracted visitors with additional events on the Jwagusan Observatory's KakaoTalk channel and a racing kart exhibition and photo zone at the Belforte Resort Moto Arena.
In addition, visitors who donated to the Hometown Love Donation Scheme during the fair were given a voucher for accommodation at Belleforest Resort, promoting the county's Hometown Love Donation Scheme. "Through this fair, we hope that the charm of Jeungpyeong will be widely known and tourists from home and abroad will visit Jeungpyeong, and we will continue to do our best to develop and promote unique tourism contents," said Ahn Jae-young.
Jeongseon-gun, where wellness and nature meet, emerges as the world's leading wellness tourism destination
Jeongseon-gun is attracting attention as a wellness tourism destination for the body and mind tired from the heat and daily life, it was announced on the 24th. Following last year's Wellness Tourism City of the Year by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, Jeongseon has become a popular summer destination, with Roman Garden, Hiwon Resort, and Parkroche Resort & Wellness designated as excellent wellness tourism destinations for the second consecutive year.
Located at 550m above sea level on Mt. Gariwangsan, Roman Garden has 330,000㎡ of variously themed gardens and offers a variety of wellness programmes, including forest healing, singing ball therapy and starlight yoga. Haiwon Resort offers wellness programmes such as sky trail trekking, currencia yoga and meditation in the Baekdu Bridge, and new programmes such as 'forest workshop' and 'healing meditation' to provide healing and relaxation to tourists.
Parkroche Resort and Wellness has been voted number one in global travel publication Travel & Leisure's Luxury Awards for two consecutive years, and is popular for its specialised wellness programmes and healthy food using local, seasonal ingredients. The resort's nearby Gariwangsan Cable Car is a great way to take in the views from the peak of Habong.
Jeongseon-gun also plans to use social networking services to promote its excellent wellness tourism destination and strengthen the linkage between summer resorts, and operate permanent wellness programmes using local tourism bases such as Jeongseon Arari Village. There are also plans to operate a wellness tourism academy to train professionals and boost the local economy.
"Jeongseon is creating a new paradigm for wellness tourism, and has many excellent wellness tourism destinations that provide healing and relaxation amidst natural beauty," said Kim Young-hwan, head of the Jeongseon County Tourism Division.
Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, the centre of wellness and healing, is popular as a summer resort destination
Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, is gaining popularity as a summer wellness tourism destination. Jeongseon was named 'Wellness Tourism City of the Year' by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization last year, attracting tourists with a variety of wellness programmes to heal the body and mind from the heat and daily routine.
Jeongseon's flagship wellness destination, the Roman Garden, is a 330,000 square metre themed garden located on Gariwangsan Mountain, 550 metres above sea level. It offers a variety of wellness programmes, including forest healing, singing ball therapy, starlight yoga, and forest trekking therapy, to help visitors relax their minds and bodies.
Haiyuan Resort offers wellness programmes such as sky trail trekking in the 1,100-metre-high Baekdu Mountain range and currencia yoga and meditation at the Hao Centre, as well as nighttime wellness to relieve fatigue and healing classes in meditation, yoga and steering.
Parkrosh Resort and Wellness offers healthy meals made with local, seasonal ingredients, and the opportunity to take the Gariwangshan Cable Car to the top of Habong for a spectacular view of the Walled City. The resort's wellness programmes help tourists find balance between body and mind.
In order to establish itself as a wellness tourism mecca in the future, Jeongseon-gun plans to develop various programmes and train wellness tourism professionals to boost the local economy. Jeongseon offers visitors the opportunity to relax their minds and bodies while enjoying a summer holiday that combines wellness and nature.
Hyundai E&C's 'D-H' and Bando E&C's 'Kaib Yubora', where wellness and high-end residential meet
Since 2020, high-end apartment brands have been in the spotlight, and apartments that provide high-end services and materials, even if they are expensive, have taken the lead in the market. However, the popularity of high-end apartment brands has been declining somewhat recently due to high commodity prices and the deteriorating construction economy. In particular, the revelation of inadequacies such as inter-floor noise and water leakage has raised alarms in the housing market centred on high-end brands.
In the midst of this, Hyundai E&C's 'D-H' and Bando E&C's 'Kaib Yubora' are attracting attention by providing differentiated wellness services. Hyundai E&C's 'D-H' was ranked first in the high-end residential segment in the Premium Brand Index (KS-PBI) organised by the Korean Standards Association. The company is raising the quality of housing by offering advanced wellness programmes such as meticulous residential space design and the introduction of all-life care houses.
On the other hand, Bando E&C, a mid-sized construction company, is setting a new paradigm for premium residential brands with the launch of Kaib Yubora. Through its prime community facility, the 'Annex Club', Kaib Eubora supports healthy living by combining wellness and social specialisation, and is setting differentiated quality standards by region.
Hyundai E&C and Bando E&C are providing a differentiated residential experience through the intersection of wellness and high-end housing, and are setting a new direction for high-end residential culture. They are utilising the latest technology and design to provide customers with an excellent wellness residential environment.
Wellness and K-MEDI Silk Road, Daegu Medical University's Global Innovation Strategy
Daegu Medical University has recently been in the spotlight for its global innovation strategy centred on the K-MEDI Silk Road. Park Soo-jin, vice president of academia and industry, said the university is making various efforts to globalise the Korean medicine-based wellness industry. The university is focusing on expanding the 'K-MEDI industry' internationally through the scientificisation and industrialisation of Korean medicine.
The K-MEDI Silk Road project aims to create new industries in the fields of functional materials, cosmetics, food, and rehabilitation therapy based on Korean medicine, and to help local companies enter overseas markets. The project is working with local governments to strengthen business networks, export curricula and attract international students to the region.
In addition, Daegu Hankuk University was recently selected for the '2024 University Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Complex' project, which will use idle space to support companies and research institutes to move in, conduct joint research, and commercialise technologies. As a result, Daegu Hankuk University will expand its industry-academia collaboration complexes specialising in cosmetics, food and healthcare, and operate a start-up innovation park.
Vice President Park emphasised that Daegu Hankuk University aims to be selected as a 'Global University 30' and plans to build a nomadic campus that connects the region and the world to foster convergent talents and promote industrialisation in Gyeongsangbuk-do based on the K-MEDI industry. In addition, a council will be formed with 17 public institutions to support local companies' global expansion, and a 'K-MEDI Silk Road Enterprise Support Centre' will be established to provide integrated support for companies, education and research.
Daegu Hankuk University is also working with Gyeongbuk Province to prepare for the RISE system, a model to overcome the risk of regional extinction through cooperation between regions, universities, and companies. Through these strategies, Daegu Hankuk University is leading global innovation based on wellness and oriental medicine.
Wellness and K-HIT project, Gangwon Land's innovative leap forward
Kangwon Land is promoting the 'K-HIT Project' to become a global complex resort, and as part of this project, all employees are participating to strengthen its execution. The 'K-HIT Project' aims to discover ideas to strengthen customer service and corporate competitiveness, and since June, the 'K-HIT Discovery Team' has been selected through an employee contest to explore sights, food, and activities across the country.
In particular, the 'K-HIT Discovery Team' is leading Gangwon Land's innovation by discovering various contents related to wellness. The group is introducing various best practices such as operating food and beverage outlets with pop-up store concepts, developing menus and brands based on the success of black pigs in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do, introducing a flea market programme for children, and introducing media art content.
Through the K-HIT Project, Gangwon Land plans to run the fifth round of discovery teams for attractions, landmarks, wellness and forest tourism, and regional linkage tourism. For the excavation team competition, two to four employees will gather to decide the location and items to be discovered, and the selected team will receive an activity fee of KRW 600,000 per person and up to three days of work recognition. At the end of the year, a special reward will be given to the best team, which will be reflected in the HR report.
"We hope that the K-HIT project will become a reality with the participation of our employees, and we look forward to it becoming the cornerstone of our leap to becoming a global resort," said Choi Chul-gyu, Acting CEO of Gangwon Land. Through the development of innovative content related to wellness, Gangwon Land is strengthening its competitiveness.
Wellness and Wanju-gun showcase at Korea International Tourism Expo
Wanju-gun recently participated in the 9th Korea International Tourism Fair at KINTEX Exhibition Centre 2 in Ilsan to showcase its wellness-related tourism attractions. The fair is a four-day event with 119 local governments and organisations, 72 travel agencies, and 446 booths promoting domestic and international tourism content.
At the fair, Wanju County highlighted its appeal as an emotional travel city through video content that captured the beauty of Wanju's nine scenic spots, including Dongseong Daeaho, Daedunsan Mountain, Samye Culture and Art Village, and Bibijeong Nakjo. In particular, the importance of wellness tourism was highlighted by introducing Guiandeok Health Healing Experience Village, Aowon Gotak, Bonggangyo, Oseongok Village, and Daeseung Hanji Village, which were recently selected as 'healing and wellness tourist destinations'.
The fair also promoted the 12th Wanju Wild & Local Food Festival, which will be held from 4 to 6 October at the Alpine Natural Recreation Forest, on a large screen, informing visitors of the county's major festivals and tourist destinations.
Wanju-gun held various participation events such as adding neighbours to the blog and following on Instagram under the theme of 'All about Wanju Travel', and provided souvenirs such as ginger jelly to attract visitors' interest.
"Wanju has a lot of charm as an emotional destination with various wellness tourism resources," said Yoo Hee-tae, head of Wanju-gun. "We hope that many tourists will visit Wanju and experience its charm through this fair."
Wellness and aviation specialised industries, the future blueprint of Kim Joo-soo
In the second half of his eighth term, Kim Ju-soo laid out a blueprint for the future of Uiseong-gun, emphasising community-based businesses and wellness as future growth engines. Uisung-gun is in the process of creating an aviation new town and developing aviation logistics, food valleys, and tourism and cultural complexes with the aim of opening Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport in 2030. This is a wellness-based project that aims to revitalise the local economy and improve the quality of life of residents, and includes various projects linked to aviation-specific industries.
Uisung-gun has designated the cell culture industry as a regulatory free zone and the drone flight test centre as a national anti-drone training ground, positioning it as a centre for the drone industry. It is also striving to create a cluster by building a drone demonstration city.
In the field of health and welfare, a pilot project for integrated medical and care support for the elderly is underway to provide customized medical and care services to local elderly, and plans are underway to strengthen essential medical systems in medically vulnerable areas and establish public postpartum care centres. Youth policies have also been strengthened to support the settlement and growth of young people through various supports such as operating youth centres, creating a youth development fund, and operating housing and cultural centres.
In the agricultural sector, the government is promoting digital innovation and smart agriculture, low-carbon farming methods and new income crops to strengthen agricultural competitiveness. "We will listen to the voices of the people and strive for endless change and innovation in the remaining two years," said Kim Joo-soo.
Wellness and southern coastal tourism, an alternative to the concentration in the capital city
The need to revitalise the southern coastal tourism industry was highlighted at the 'South Coast Tourism Promotion Debate' held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Hwang Hee-gon, CEO of the Gyeongnam Tourism Foundation, pointed out that the tourism industry is concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, and suggested promoting tourism through wellness and outdoor activities as an alternative to utilise the abundant tourism resources in the southern coastal region.
"The southern coast is the only region that can compete with the concentration in the metropolitan area, and it is necessary to revitalise the region through the tourism industry," Hwang said, emphasising the need to take advantage of new trends such as wellness tourism. He added that a strategy is needed to efficiently utilise the tourism resources of the southern coastal region (Gyeongnam, Busan, and Jeonnam) to solve the problem of concentration in the metropolitan area and revitalise the local economy.
The discussion called for the establishment of a new investment strategy based on tourism resources and trends in the south coast, and noted the rise of the MICE industry, purposeful tourism, and community participatory tourism in the region. Mr Lee Jung-sil, CEO of Busan Tourism Organization, emphasised that co-operation between the government, local governments and private capital is essential for the balanced growth of the tourism industry.
The government is supporting the tourism industry through the creation of the South Coast Marine Leisure Tourism Belt, and related bills have been introduced in the National Assembly to promote the systematic development of southern coastal tourism. Efforts to maximise the potential of southern coastal tourism are expected to continue in the future.
Wellness and Jecheon Tourism: Becoming a 10 million tourist city
Jecheon City has become a 10 million tourist city with a focus on wellness tourism. Park Jun-beom, head of the Jecheon City Planning and Competition Tourism Business Unit, revealed the vision and achievements of Jecheon's tourism development. "We are leading a new transformation of Jecheon by revitalising Uirimji and focusing on wellness tourism," Park said.
Uirimji is a representative tourist destination in Jecheon and is an agricultural cultural heritage with a 2,000-year history. Park explained that the company is renewing the brand of Uirimji rice as 'Millennium Smile' and maximising the area's tourism resources to increase its value as a tourist destination. "We are using the history and culture of Uirimji as tourism content to increase the brand value of Jecheon," he added.
The challenges and achievements of Jecheon's tourism development process were also introduced. Jecheon's attempts to register as a UNESCO World Heritage Site were met with opposition from local residents and difficulties in preserving cultural assets. However, the city is gradually achieving results by balancing tourism and historical preservation. In particular, marketing using social media and mass media has raised awareness of Jecheon, and the number of tourists has increased significantly.
"With the strengthening of Jecheon's tourism infrastructure, Jecheon is becoming a city optimised for wellness and healing tourism," Park said, noting that Jecheon is only one hour and 10 minutes away from Seoul. He also revealed that Jecheon will be transformed into a culture and tourism foundation in the future and will continue to strive to promote tourism.
With its background as a 10 million tourist city, Jecheon is preparing for its future as a centre for wellness and healing tourism.
**The dawn of pet healthcare: pet care with wellness**.
Recently, the term 'pet' has replaced 'pet' and the culture of treating pets like family members is spreading. The pet healthcare market is also undergoing a transformation. In the past, the focus was mainly on reactive treatments and nutritional supplements, but now it's all about prevention and daily healthcare.
DNA testing to prevent genetic diseases is becoming more common. For example, Embark, a US-based company, offers a service that analyses your dog's DNA to determine the risk of genetic diseases in advance. The test kit requires a simple swab and provides accurate analysis. Image-based diagnostic technology is also developing in Korea, and artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to make more precise diagnoses.
Smart devices for pet health are also gaining popularity. For example, Toletta in Japan and Pulsong in Korea monitor weight and excretion through smart toilets, and can detect abnormalities early and consult with a veterinarian remotely. In addition, FitBark from the US offers a smart collar that not only tracks location but also monitors your pet's overall health in real-time.
Advanced fitness programmes are also emerging, such as 'Aqua Fitness' for senior pets. This programme, offered by Garraria, provides tailored workouts for senior dogs, taking into account their condition and the weather, and provides professional care in a luxurious environment.
Funeral services to prepare pets for their final days are also on the rise. Legislation requires that pets' bodies be disposed of in a funeral facility, and specialised funeral services are providing high-quality services.
Innovation and wellness trends in pet healthcare continue to evolve, offering a wide range of options for pet health and happiness.