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| July 25th, 2024 Korea Wellness News |
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we explore the exciting developments in Korea Wellness as of July 25th, 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.
**"Chungbuk, a province that embraces wellness and gardens, becomes Central Park."**
Kim Gap-soo, CEO of the Chungbuk Cultural Foundation, recently won the grand prize in the metropolitan municipality category at the Korea International Tourism Fair, signalling a new direction for Chungbuk's tourism industry. The Chungbuk Cultural Foundation Tourism Division's achievement, which took place just five months after its launch, was largely due to its project to rebrand Chungbuk as 'Central Park Chungbuk, the Garden of Korea'. The concept focuses on strengthening wellness tourism and staycation tourism, centred on the province's natural landscapes, including mountains, lakes, and valleys.
"Chungcheongbuk-do is a wellness garden created by nature, and healthy food, such as mushrooms and medicinal herbs from the mountains and freshwater shrimp from rivers and valleys, is a great asset," Kim said, adding that this will provide tourists with true travel happiness. To overcome the sluggishness of Chungcheongbuk-do's stay-over tourism industry, the province is developing a variety of attractions, including healing tourism, non-motorised leisure tourism, and trips to small towns.
Kim also emphasised the need to improve services and build a tourism industry ecosystem, which are essential for the development of the tourism industry. The Chungbuk Cultural Foundation is preparing to host the Chungbuk Tourism Enterprise Support Centre to foster tourism ventures and start-ups, and is working to address budget shortfalls. "Chungbuk's wellness programmes and nature-based activities are competitive with other regions," he said, predicting that the province will be able to position itself as a major tourist destination through programmes that attract tourists' interest.
**"Wellness and customer value realisation, a new paradigm for the distribution industry"**
The retail industry is making new efforts to realise customer value. On the 25th, HUROM will hold a 'Customer Value Realisation Committee' launching ceremony at its headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to strengthen its customer-centric management. The company has been certified as a customer-centric management (CCM) company for the fifth time this year, and through the inauguration ceremony, the CCM TF team was promoted to the Customer Value Realisation Committee. The committee aims to enhance customer rights and interests through collaboration between R&D, production, quality, marketing, and other departments. "With the launch of the Customer Value Realisation Committee, we will internalise our awareness of customer satisfaction and systemise our practices," said Kim Jae-won.
Rael also launched a limited edition 'Wellness Friendship' package in collaboration with vegan beauty brand Amuse. The package is designed to make taking care of your body healthy and fun, and includes Rael's Essential Drops, Amuse Wellness' Vegan Soy Hand Cream Unstress, hair scrunchies, and more. The package, which aims to provide consumers with better health care and satisfaction with wellness-related products, is part of a marketing strategy that considers the well-being of modern people.
As such, the retail industry is strengthening its trust with consumers with new strategies centred on customer value and wellness, and we are looking forward to its future development.
**"Fulmuwon Olga Whole Foods, a summer health meal prepared with wellness and domestic ingredients."**
Fulmuwon Olga Whole Foods is holding a premium health food exhibition reflecting the wellness trend for summer until 1 August. With the recent rise in the cost of eating out and the trend of health and wellness consumption, there is a growing demand for premium health food that can be enjoyed at home. In response, Olga will present a variety of high-quality home snack products using domestic and organic ingredients.
At the exhibition, Olga has carefully selected a variety of nutritious meals, including Samgyetang convenience food made with domestic antibiotic-free chicken broth, a set of local seafood soup, chuar soup, and eel soup. The Samgyetang product is made with organic glutinous rice, ginseng and jujube, and is easy to prepare in just 10 minutes. The Haesintang set includes cleaned seafood and antibiotic-free chicken, making it easy to enjoy restaurant-quality flavours at home.
In addition, Olga offers a chilled chuatang and eel soup made with ground freshwater eel, using domestic loach and shiragi, while the meat and seafood are selected from high-quality products that are certified antibiotic-free. In particular, you can choose from a variety of meats such as antibiotic-free pork belly, pork neck, and Korean beef sirloin, as well as healthy smoked duck flavoured with fruit barbecue sauce. The mudfish is available as a buy-one-get-one-free deal after removing the thorns.
"We have prepared premium health and nutrition-conscious foods that are easy to enjoy at home," said Lee Sang-min, Team Leader of Olga Whole Foods Processed Foods Team. "We recommend Olga's high-quality Lucky Day foods to help you recover from the hot summer months and enjoy a vibrant summer."
"Wellness and Luxury, DYAD Opens Private Club in Cheongdam-dong"** "Wellness and Luxury, DYAD Opens Private Club in Cheongdam-dong"**
DYAD has opened a new private members' club in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. DYAD occupies three basement floors and 17 rooftop floors of a 20-storey building in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, offering members a unique luxury and wellness experience. The club boasts world-class art and interiors, and will offer members a unique sense of comfort and luxury.
D'ade will feature a range of spaces and services centred around three key concepts: Wellness, Social and Pleasure. A world-class F&B space, biohacking, spa lounge, socialising, and a variety of entertainment will be offered to members, creating a new space that combines wellness and luxury.
The project is being designed by a range of artists, including world-renowned architect Dominique Perrault, and will host international parties, events and celebrity visits through partnerships with global clubs. Members will be able to enjoy new experiences and networking opportunities through a variety of events and programmes, including global art fairs, wine events, forums and seminars, and book clubs.
"We will set a new standard for luxury membership in Korea, and we are taking the first step at Cheongdam-dong 1," said a representative from D.A.D. "It will not just be a space, but a challenging platform for members' success and well-being." D.A.D. also envisions itself as a hub for the global innovation community, a place where creative and humanities-inspired individuals can gather to share ideas and collaborate.
The D.I.A.D. will only accept a limited number of members through a rigorous screening process, and more information can be found on the official website.
**"Wellness and Ocean Healing, Wando County and Sukhoe Central Association Sign Win-Win Cooperation"
Wando County has signed a business agreement with the Sukhoe Central Association to promote the marine therapy industry. The signing ceremony was held on the 23rd at the reception room of the Sukhoe Central Association, and was attended by Wando County Governor Shin Woo-cheol and Sukhoe Central Association Chairman Labour Jin. The main contents of the agreement include cooperation in the operation of marine healing programmes to promote the marine healing industry and improve the welfare of Sukuk Central's employees, cooperation in using various events and training venues in connection with marine healing facilities, and continuous exchange and cooperation.
"More than 30,000 people have visited the marine therapy centre, and the number of regular visitors is increasing," said Wando County Governor Shin Woo-cheol. "We will actively support the marine therapy programme to help our employees lead a healthy working life."
"Wando County is the centre of the fishing industry with close ties to Sukhoe, and we expect this agreement to create synergistic effects between the two organisations," said Labor Jin, Chairman of Sukhoe Central.
The Wando Marine Therapy Centre is the only marine therapy facility in Korea, with 16 therapy facilities, and is attracting attention as a wellness destination. Currently, the centre offers a 30% discount for families of three or more, 20% for Jeonnam residents and groups of 10 or more, and 10% for Jeonnam Sarangae supporters. After using the centre, visitors can visit Wando Tower and Jangbogo Memorial Hall, two major tourist attractions, for free, and discounts are also available for tourist facilities such as monorails and zip lines.
The centre also provides discount coupons for restaurants, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy wellness and sightseeing at the same time.
"Han River Nightwalk 42K with Wellness, a special challenge on a summer night at Yeouido Hangang Park."** ** "Han River Nightwalk 42K with Wellness
The 2024 Hangang Nightwalk 42K will be held at Yeouido Hangang Park. More than just a walking competition, the event has become a festival that offers a unique summer night experience. Participants will challenge themselves by walking the 15K, 22K, and 42K courses overnight. The event is hugely popular with the 2030 generation, offering a unique experience that is both fulfilling and memorable.
This year, we're also focusing on environmental stewardship, encouraging participants to reduce the amount of waste they generate on their walks and utilise recyclables. In collaboration with the Environmental Movement Alliance, we will be running various environmental campaigns such as plastic bottle recycling and zero waste voting.
As the main sponsor of the event, Herbalife will help participants replenish their energy with its health and wellness products, and will provide a rich programme of activities and experiences with a variety of brands. In addition to Herbalife, brands such as Lingtee, Dongwon Denmark, and Habitat for Humanity will be hosting booths and entertaining participants with product experiences and photo zone events.
Reflecting the trend towards health and wellness, Han River Nightwalk 42K is a unique festival that offers a unique challenge on a summer night, with great photo opportunities for social media sharing.
**"Wellness and Tennis: The New Wave of Sports Trends for Generation MZ"**
Tennis has become increasingly popular among the MZ generation (Millennials + Gen Z). Recently, tennis has become more than just a sport, but a new trend in wellness and lifestyle. A, a man in his late 20s in Seoul, is so fascinated by tennis that he takes body profile photos with a tennis concept, enjoys coffee and tennis at Tecafe, and engages in various activities related to tennis.
The popularity of tennis has become a symbol of health and wellness, especially for the MZ generation. Of the 800,000 tennis players in Korea, 60 per cent are in their 20s and 30s, showing that the sport is gaining popularity among young people. Smash CEO Seol Woo-hyung explains that tennis is a relatively inexpensive sport to play, and its popularity has increased since the pandemic as public and private courts have opened up to young people.
Tennis is now crossing sporting boundaries and combining with other disciplines. Papa John's pizza advert featuring popular girl group IVE and NH Investment & Securities' tennis-related advert show that tennis has become more than just a sport, but a social trend. In addition, more and more people are taking body profiles with tennis concepts, and 'tecafes' that combine tennis and cafes have also appeared. 'Haytennis' in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, is a café where you can buy tennis equipment and have your racket repaired, and it has been very popular with Generation MZ.
These changes show that tennis has become a symbol of wellness and lifestyle, and is leading a new trend among Generation MZ.
**"Wellness and local tourism meet: Suncheon Tourism Promotion Forum 'Suncheon Living Local' held."**
On the 24th, Suncheon City held the 'Suncheon Tourism Promotion Forum: Suncheon Tourism Revitalisation Forum' was successfully held at the Garden Location Centre. The forum was held to discuss sustainable tourism development and explore the future of tourism that coexists with the local community. The event was attended by more than 70 participants from Suncheon's tourism industry, local content experts, and those interested in local tourism.
The forum began with a keynote presentation by Professor Son Min-young of Cheongam University's Department of Wellness, Culture, Tourism & Food on the topic of 'The Present and Future of Local Tourism'. This was followed by presentations on topics such as "Culinary contents utilising Suncheon's resources" by Kim Seung-cheol of Suncheon Beer, "Sales growth of menus made with local ingredients" by Kim Ga-hyun of Slow Project, "Warm hospitality and value-providing spaces" by Lee Soo-mi of StayDooL, "How to convert Suncheon's resources into travel contents" by Jeong Hee-joo, "The role of an attractive guide" by Kim Sun-hee, and "Culture and tourism through books" by Kim Joo-eun of Simda.
In particular, Jung Hee-joo emphasised that "sustainable tourism can only be realised when benefits and outcomes are equally distributed to local communities for local sustainability". The panel discussion was moderated by Professor Lee Hee-seung of Cheongam University and included Kwon Oh-sang, CEO of Puzzlab, Kim Hyung-woo, Director of the Korean Peninsula Culture and Tourism Institute, Heo Soon-young, CEO of Jeju Good Travel, Hong Ga-eun, Secretary General of the Korea Tourism Startup Association, and Kim Hyung-woo, CEO of Discover Jeju. They shared their opinions on the development of content that leverages localism, the importance of activity programmes, and the need for content that meets trends.
"We need to encourage visitors to participate in the future value of Suncheon," said Kim Hyung-woo, which resonated with many participants. After the forum, the participants had a networking session to build lasting interest and cooperation between Suncheon City and the tourism industry. "I hope the youth will listen to the advice of experts and create something new to build a solid foundation," said Noh Kwan-kyu, Mayor of Suncheon City.
**"Wellness meets herbal medicine: Daegu Hansa University Herbal Medicine Experience Town signs a business agreement with Daegu National Police Agency."**
A herbal medicine experience town operated by Daegu University of Korean Medicine has signed a business agreement with the Daegu Police Department's civil servant workplace council to experience wellness culture. The signing ceremony was held on the 25th at the seminar room of Daegu Oriental Medicine Experience Town, and was attended by Jung Hyun-ah, director of Daegu Oriental Medicine Experience Town, and Moon Ki-young, chairman of the Daegu Police Agency Workplace Council, as well as officials from both organisations.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will activate internal and external publicity through information exchange and strengthened cooperation for mutual development, and actively support the use of the herbal medical experience town for the healing of council members and their families.
Daegu City Oriental Medicine Experience Town is a complex cultural space designed to revitalise the city of Yakryeong and promote the excellence of oriental medicine, and is equipped with various facilities to improve the health of citizens and develop the local economy. It includes an ICT oriental medicine experience centre, an oriental medicine and beauty experience centre, and a foot bath experience centre.
The experience town offers children's oriental medicine experience programmes and acupuncture experiences in collaboration with Daegu Oriental Hospital, affiliated to Daegu University of Korean Medicine, as well as art therapy classes and art book clubs to heal the minds of modern people. In addition, DIY experiences and various herbal medicine-related programmes are held to provide visitors with a variety of wellness experiences.
**"Wellness and pets: Jeongseon-gun creates a pet camping site"**
Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, announced on the 25th that it will build a 12,260-square-metre 'pet camping site' within an ecological experience learning centre. The campsite will provide a healthy and happy wellness experience for pets and their owners. With a total project cost of more than 120 million won, the pet campground and a walking path for pets will be located at 2908 Donggang-ro, Jeongseon-eup, within the ecological experience learning centre.
The pet campsite will include a variety of facilities such as animal showers, photo zones, drinking fountains, and playground equipment, and will also host wellness events for pets. The aim is to create an unforgettable experience for both pet owners and their pets, and to foster a pet-friendly culture.
"We will continue to do our best to create a healthy pet culture as a pet-friendly city," said Kim Young-hwan, head of the Jeongseon-gun Tourism Division.
**"Wellness and Spatial Design: Studio Kona Rebrands as 'The Kona'**"
Studio Kona is celebrating its 15th anniversary and is rebranding as The Kona to become a wellness lifestyle space solutions company. The new name reflects the company's vision to provide clients with the perfect healing and restorative space.
The brand will be led by interior expert Yejin Baek, who will strengthen its wellness space design services with the expertise and credibility she has built through residential, commercial, and hospital space design. She emphasises that wellness is not just a trend, but a guide to current and future lifestyles, and pursues space design that fuses wellness, happiness, and health.
After the rebranding, 'Thecona' plans to expand its scope of work to various fields such as resorts, stays, care centres, and nursing homes in addition to existing hospital spaces. By doing so, the company will maximise the power of spaces to provide healthy and positive energy and provide clients with differentiated wellness space solutions. 'Thecona' will continue to innovate and change to become a leader in wellness space design in Korea.
**"Wellness meets Korean tourism: A campaign aimed at China's MZ generation"**.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced today that they are launching a campaign to attract Chinese Generation MZ to visit Korea during the summer holiday season. The campaign is designed to promote Korea's various attractions, including wellness tourism, to Chinese university students.
According to a survey by the Beijing office of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the main consumer group of Korean tourism is women in their 20s and 30s, who mainly enjoy gourmet tourism and tourist attractions, and use platforms such as Sina Hongsu to obtain travel information. In response, the corporation is carrying out a large-scale campaign to attract Chinese university students during the summer holidays, cooperating with Tongcheng and Qiong Yu to provide them with membership cards and exclusive products.
It is also running a campaign called "Open Your Own Korean Tourism Playground" where 100 Chinese university students will be selected to travel across Korea. The participants will enjoy their trip and promote the new way of travelling for Gen Z through their personal social media. Their itineraries will be developed into tourism products in collaboration with local Chinese travel agencies.
In collaboration with Xiaohongsu, China's largest social media platform, the 'Let's have fun in Korea' campaign will be launched, with content featuring influencers experiencing and recommending K-tourism in Korea.
In addition to Seoul, the Korea Tourism Organization will also promote region-specific tourism products in Busan, Gangneung, and other cities, and facilitate convenient consumption for Chinese tourists through mobile payments such as WeChat Pay. The campaign will also highlight Korea's wellness tourism to attract more independent travellers.
**"Business Opportunities in the Pet Economy Era with Wellness"**
As the pet economy is in full swing, wellness-related business opportunities are emerging in the pet market. As the expression goes, "born in the heart and raised in the wallet," pets have become more than just pets, but companions, and spending on pets is increasing. In 2022, the domestic pet market was worth about KRW 8 trillion, but it is expected to reach KRW 20 trillion by 2032. The global pet market is also expected to reach $493 billion by 2030.
As the pet market grows, investors are focusing on it. In 2023, global investment in pet-related companies is expected to reach $2.8 billion, a ninefold increase from 2013. Blackstone made a major investment in pet care company Rover Group, and Apollo Global Management acquired Petsmart. These investments reflect confidence in the scalability and potential of the pet business.
The key trends driving change in the pet market are pet humanisation and digitalisation. In the pet food market, premiumisation is taking place and alternative foods are being developed, such as plant and insect proteins. Pet commerce is going online and evolving into an E2E platform combined with healthcare services. For example, Chewie in the US is growing into a comprehensive platform that offers everything from food and toys to healthcare and insurance services.
In the pet hardware space, devices that help pets in their daily lives, such as smart feeders and automatic waste disposal devices, are gaining popularity. Digital healthcare platforms are also monitoring pets' health status and supporting wellness care. The pet insurance market is growing rapidly overseas, with products covering a wide range of animals.
The pet market is made up of various subsectors and is considered a blue ocean with no clear market leader. Companies will need to gain competitive advantage through differentiated business models and E2E services, and expand the market ecosystem through strategies such as acquisitions. It is important to actively explore and capitalise on opportunities related to pet wellness.
**"Wellness and Local Agri-Food: Conference on Healthy Aging"**
The Agri-Food Research Institute of the Rural Development Administration and Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Development Institute will jointly hold an academic conference on the theme of "100 years of health! Finding the way in local agri-food" from 25 to 26 July at Sancheong Hanbang Family Hotel. The conference is designed to explore the research and development direction of local agri-food products for healthy ageing and to strengthen research and development cooperation between the centre and the provinces.
The first day of the congress will begin with a keynote lecture titled "Health & Wellness R&D Trends and Vitalisation Proposals". This will be followed by presentations on topics such as nutritional management of the elderly, the role of the community, and the certification system and status of excellent age-friendly food products. In addition, various special lectures are scheduled, such as strategies for developing and providing food for the elderly, and promotion of food products developed using local agricultural products.
On the second day, the participants will visit rice processor Hyosung Food & Farming Cooperative Corporation to see the rice milling process and the production of processed rice food. "The conference will serve as an opportunity to explore a virtuous cycle of care and meal management using locally-based agricultural products," said Yoon Dong-jin, head of the Agri-Food Resources Division at the Rural Development Administration, adding that the agency will continue to provide a venue for active information exchange and communication between central and local research institutions to discover issues.
The congress will be an important opportunity to discuss how to support healthy ageing through the convergence of wellness and local agricultural products.
**"Wellness and Lifestyle: New Product Launches from Daemyung Sono Season, Rael and Goodall"**
Daemyung Sono Season has launched Sleepover, an online-only emotional lifestyle brand. The brand is introducing memory foam mattresses, foundations and toppers based on its 30+ years of sleep know-how in the hotel and resort business. Sleepover offers high-quality products at affordable prices online, targeting single households and students who value practicality and simple design.
In addition, women's wellness care brand Rael has teamed up with vegan beauty brand Amuse to launch an exclusive Wellness Friendship package. The package includes Rael's Essential Drops and Amuse's Vegan Soy Hand Cream Unstress, as well as a hair scrunchie, perfect for summer styling. Essential Drops is a multi-purpose essential oil that can be used in sanitary napkins and underwear to help combat Y-zone odour.
goodal has launched a limited edition collaboration with the popular Japanese character Munchkin to create a limited edition collaboration. The edition features goodal's best-selling products alongside products featuring the character, as well as a variety of merchandise and refill giveaways. The edition includes serums, pads, and creams from the Tangerine line, as well as three products from the Seaweed line.
The new launches emphasise wellness and lifestyle, offering consumers a healthy and fulfilling way to live.
**"Wellness and History: Geumpung Brewery in Ganghwa-gun continues 100 years of tradition"**.
Geumpung Brewery, located in Onsuri, Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, is gaining attention as a wellness tourism destination. The brewery boasts nearly 100 years of history since its founding in 1931, and was recently designated as a registered cultural heritage of Incheon City. The building, built during the Japanese colonial period, preserves the architectural style of a modern factory and is recognised for its historical value in the brewing industry in Ganghwa-do.
Geumpung Brewery has been selected as an Incheon Wellness Tourism Destination in 2023 and attracts tourists with its 'sake stories'. About 1,500 people visit the brewery every year, and it offers various experience programmes such as 'tasting', 'tour', and 'making'. Geumpung, a representative rice wine, is made with eco-friendly rice from the Ganghwa region and Onsuri underground water, and is characterised by its smooth and sweet taste.
Yang Tae-seok has a vision to develop Geumpung Brewery into a tourism platform, not just a place to sell alcohol. With his planning skills and food engineering knowledge, he aims to make the brewery known in the global market through various collaborations and product development. He aims to expand into the global market in the future, and plans to provide unique tourism experiences through collaborations with various local specialities.
**"Wellness and regional development: Jeongseon-gun spurs training of wellness tourism professionals"**
Jeongseon-gun is running the second edition of the 2024 Jeongseon Wellness Tourism Academy to foster wellness tourism professionals. The academy will be held in Jeongseon, which was named 'Wellness Tourism City of the Year' in 2023, and is a programme to train wellness tourism professionals using local resources and nature. The 2024 academy will consist of seven sessions of theoretical training and on-the-job training, with a total of 135 applicants, attracting high interest.
The academy will be held at Jeongseon's specialised wellness tourism destinations such as High One Resort and the Aurage Perimeter Trail, where participants will learn wellness tourism planning and management skills through theoretical training and practical exercises. Kim Young-hwan, head of the tourism department, said that as Jeongseon has three excellent wellness tourism destinations designated by the Korea Tourism Organization, the academy will help participants grow into local wellness tourism experts.
Through the academy, Jeongseon-gun aims to train professionals in the field of wellness tourism and promote the development of the local tourism industry.
"Wellness and Forest Management: Opening the Second Act of Life in Nature"**
Experiential forests and tourism farms show how nature and wellness can be used to create new revenue models. Opportunities are opening up for individuals and communities who own land to use their forests to generate multiple revenue streams.
They can be operated by forestry heirs or independent foresters, and offer a range of experiences in nature, including forest products production and accommodation. They provide a great opportunity to increase the value of forest resources and generate revenue through forest-based wellness and tourism. New revenue models such as trading forest carbon credits are also possible.
Tourist farms operate on a relatively small scale, and are owned by farmers, fishermen, or co-operatives, who earn revenue from tourism experiences and farm operations using local resources. A recent example of a successful tourist farm is a village in Gunwigun, Daegu. The village combines tourism and experience by utilising ponds and a perimeter path, making good use of local funds.
These forest management experience forests and tourist farms are gaining attention as an attractive way to start the second act of life by combining wellness and nature. They provide an opportunity to combine wellness activities in nature with health and profit.