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| July 30th, 2024 Korea Wellness News |
** Gangwon's maritime tourism needs to innovate in harmony with wellness
There is growing concern that the marine tourism industry on the east coast of Gangwon Province is losing its competitiveness. According to a recent survey by the Korea Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Development Institute, out of the 41 trillion won spent on maritime tourism, Gangwon Province ranks sixth in the country with only 3.7841 trillion won, or 9.2% of the total. In particular, Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam are leading the way in terms of maritime tourism spending, ranking first, second, and third, respectively, while Gangwon is performing relatively poorly.
In Gangwon, 60 per cent of marine tourists are in their 60s or older, with only a small proportion of the 2030 generation. This aging phenomenon has resulted in low consumption of marine leisure and healing-related expenditures, and the current situation where the majority of expenditures are on accommodation and food is unlikely to lead to future growth. This is a serious problem as marine tourism is a high value-added industry associated with high national income levels.
It has been pointed out that there is an urgent need to improve the health of the marine tourism industry. The Gangwon region needs to build a differentiated infrastructure by developing marine tourism products for families in their 40s and 50s, wellness and healing programmes for the middle-aged and elderly, and marine leisure experience products for the 2030 generation. To this end, Gangwon Province, Gangwon Research Institute, local universities, and national agencies should work together to develop and implement strategic policies. Innovative approaches to increase the competitiveness of the marine tourism industry are urgently needed.
** Seowon Health Centre in Cheongju City transforms into a wellness-focused 'healing health centre'
The relocation and new construction of the Seowon Health Centre in Sugok-dong, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, will begin in earnest. The new health centre will be located within Maebong Neighbourhood Park and will be designed with four floors above ground and one below. The total project cost is KRW 39.9 billion and is expected to be completed in June 2026.
The new Seowon Health Centre will be transformed into a 'health centre with a theme of health, culture, and nature' by emphasising the healing space in the park. The first floor of the proposed building will house a civil affairs room, a medical examination room, and a vaccination room, while the second floor will house a health promotion room, a mother and child health centre, and an exercise business room. The third floor will house the Dementia Relief Centre and integrated offices, while the fourth floor will house the nutrition department and multipurpose rooms.
In particular, the new health center will be responsible for the comprehensive health care of local residents by creating a screening clinic and a mental health welfare centre. "The health center will be located in Maebong Neighbourhood Park, strengthening the image of a 'healing health center in the park' and establishing itself as a wellness-focused health center with a health experience center, smart wellness center, and iMom Health Kid Center," said Lee Jin-sook, director of Seowon Health Center.
This project is expected to play a big role in creating an environment for health projects that can systematically and creatively respond to the diverse health needs of local residents.
** Hyun-tae Je, President of Korea H Oriental Hospital, Promoting health through wellness-centred integrated treatment***.
Dr Je Hyun-tae, CEO of Korea University Hospital, emphasises wellness-focused, personalised treatment through collaboration between medicine and oriental medicine. With the motto 'Thinking of a healthier life', Korea H Oriental Hospital aims to improve the holistic health of its patients and provides comprehensive care through the collaboration of medical and oriental medicine specialists.
The hospital's Integrated Cancer Immunology Centre and Non-Surgical Spine and Joint Centre provide patient-specific treatment through a combination of modern medicine and oriental medicine. In particular, the Integrated Cancer Immunology Centre focuses on combining modern approaches with oriental medicine to strengthen the immune system of cancer patients to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment and reduce side effects.
In addition, KHH is a pilot medical centre designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for the application of the Korean Herbal Health Insurance, which provides high-quality herbal medicines at a low cost and guarantees safe herbal treatment. Each patient's prescription and treatment is tailored to their individual condition and needs.
The hospital runs special programmes such as 'Considerate Dressing', 'One Day Class', and 'Romantic H. Salon' to promote health and emotional healing for patients. By collaborating with the local community, the hospital aims to present a wellness-centred medical model and play a leading role in opening new horizons in Korean healthcare.
In the future, the hospital plans to focus on attracting foreign patients and developing various programmes to improve the health of the local community, while continuing to invest in research to scientise and standardise Korean medicine.
** Dongwon F&B launches 'Welo', a wellness-focused healthy snack brand**.
Dongwon F&B has launched a new healthy snack brand, 'Welo'. 'Welo' is a combination of 'wellness' and 'hello', meaning health and well-being, and was created to make healthy eating easy for everyone to enjoy. The new products are home-made meals (HMRs) made with 100% whole oats, emphasising taste and convenience.
WELLO Oatmeal Sesame Chicken is made with light chicken breast and topped with savoury sesame seeds, along with chickpeas and lentils for a protein boost. The product provides 11g of protein per cup and is expected to be a popular healthy snack. Another product, WELLO Oatmeal Pumpkin, harnesses the natural sweetness of pumpkin without added sugar and contains 6g of fibre to help you manage your diet.
Both WELLO oatmeal products are ready to eat after just one minute in the microwave and come with a spoon, making it easy to enjoy anytime, anywhere. Dongwon F&B revealed that Welo Oatmeal has received great interest from consumers, with the products selling out on live commerce on Kakao Shopping.
"As the health and wellness trend continues, convenience food products using oats and konjac are attracting attention," said a representative from Dongwon F&B. "We plan to continue to introduce various new products that suggest healthy eating habits through Welo." Welo's products are available at hypermarkets, supermarkets, and major online stores nationwide, and are priced at 4980 won each.
** Competition in the wellness and smartwatch market, the limitations of Samsung's Galaxy Ring and strategies of biotechs***.
Samsung Electronics' smartwatch 'Galaxy Ring' was recently launched, but major biotechs are still taking it easy. While Galaxy Ring is aimed at the wellness market and excludes blood pressure and blood glucose measurement, Sky Labs and Da Vinci Health are trying to differentiate themselves by targeting the medical device market.
The Galaxy Ring works with Samsung Health to measure exercise, sleep, heart rate, and more, and can last up to seven days on a single charge. However, it does not include blood pressure and non-invasive blood glucose measurement, which creates an opportunity for biotechs that are particularly strong in blood pressure measurement technology.
SkyLabs is focused on the medical device market and has developed the world's first ring atrial fibrillation monitoring device and sphygmomanometer. The company's ring blood pressure monitor, Cart BP, is approved as a medical device in South Korea and covered by health insurance, and is used in hospitals for 24-hour blood pressure measurement.
Da Vinci Health is planning to target both the wellness and medical device markets and will launch Da Vinci BP with continuous blood pressure measurement. As a late entrant, Da Vinci Health aims to enter the market quickly and plans to obtain medical device approval quickly.
In conclusion, despite the functional limitations of the Galaxy Ring, biotechs are strengthening their competitiveness in the wellness and medical device markets based on their expertise.
** The Year of Wellness and Visit Asan: Strategic Initiatives to Boost Tourism
The city of Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, has designated 2025 as the 'Year of Visit Asan' and is implementing various initiatives to regain its reputation as a tourism destination. The city plans to launch a comprehensive tourism revitalisation strategy next year, including the development of a tourism brand, products to attract tourists, and the maintenance of tourist amenities.
"All departments should find at least one project to promote in preparation for next year's 'Visit Asan Year,'" Asan Mayor Park Kyung-gui said at an expanded executive meeting on the 29th. He ordered the departments to come up with measures to attract more tourists to the city's major tourism contents, including Eoam Folk Village, Sinjeong Lake Park, Ginkgo Grove, and Gokgyo Stream.
The mayor also called for thorough preparations at the town and village level to maintain the city's cleanliness and beauty. In particular, he emphasised the development of tourism in the western part of the city, including the Dogo Art Hall, Onggi Experience Centre, and Dogo World Flower and Botanical Garden, as part of the 'Year of Visiting Asan', and instructed the city to find a solution to the electricity bill issue at Dogo World Flower and Botanical Garden.
He also asked the city to review the utilisation of its new brand identity (BI), the 'Art Valley Asan' logo, and said that the development of a character using an eagle owl should be fast-tracked. This is part of a strategy to effectively convey the image of Asan to tourists.
In addition, preparatory work will be carried out in various areas, including budgeting for the recovery of heavy rain damage, reinforcing plans for cultural performances using live commerce, creating video materials for investment briefings in three languages, and requesting cooperation with Chungnam Techno Park for a wellness fair and transfer of wellness equipment.
The 'Visit Asan Year' is expected to be an important milestone for the city to develop its overall tourism industry, including wellness tourism.
** CBRE Korea launches medical-specific commercial property services with Wellness
CBRE Korea has launched a new medical-specific commercial property retail service. The new service is in line with the growing demand for medical tourism in Korea and abroad. CBRE Korea offers commercial property services specialised in the medical sector, drawing on its global network and extensive local commercial data.
Currently, the medical commercial property market is growing, driven by the increasing demand from medical tourists, and is performing strongly in major traditional commercial districts such as Myeongdong, Gangnam and Hongdae. CBRE Korea will build on its global experience with world-class medical institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic and Stanford University Medical Centre to provide specialist services tailored to the local medical market.
The new team, led by Hoochang Do, is comprised of experts who have spent the past decade implementing successful merchandising (MD) strategies and key tenant marketing for a variety of medical properties, including dermatology, orthopaedics, and wellness clinics. The team will also help medical brands expand overseas through thorough data-driven retail analyses and strategy formulation.
"While traditional shopping districts have provided services focused on fashion, food and beverage, and entertainment, specialised areas such as wellness also require specialised commercial real estate services," said Hoochang Do. "Through this medical commercial real estate retail service, we will provide our clients with optimised, data-driven shopping district analysis and strategy planning."
** One-Day Tour of Western Gyeonggi to Enjoy Wellness and Nature
The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization and seven cities in the western region of Gyeonggi Province have teamed up to launch the 'Gyeonggi Western Region Wide Area City Tour'. This city tour consists of a differentiated course that contributes to regional revitalisation while experiencing nature and culture. The city tour buses depart from Gwangmyeong and Yongsan stations on weekends and holidays, offering easy access to the city centre at a reasonable price.
Among the various tour courses, the wellness-related 'Wellness in the City Centre One Day Tour (Gimpo-Bucheon)' stands out. The tour starts at Aegibong Ecological Park in Gimpo, where you can explore a modern cultural complex with a peace and ecology theme and enjoy the spectacular view of the Han River and Imjin River. Afterwards, you'll experience rural activities such as lotus leaf rice making at Hangang Sunset Village, and enjoy the latest in cultural art at Bucheon Art Bunker B39 in Bucheon. Finally, you can enjoy wellness and nature at the Bucheon Lake Botanical Garden Supia.
Another recommended course is the Healing One Day Tour to Nature in the City (Gwangmyeong-Siheung). This course starts with a cool cave experience at Gwangmyeong Cave, followed by a visit to the sea and museum in Oido, and then a variety of nature experiences at Gaegol Ecological Park in Siheung. The "Weekend Outing with Kids (Gwangmyeong-Bucheon)" course for families with children is also popular and includes places that kids will love, such as Robot Park and the Manga Museum.
A variety of one-day tours in western Gyeonggi Province offer the opportunity to experience wellness and healing at the same time, making for a special day out with family, friends, and romantic partners.
** Newkin Named #1 Company in the World for Wellness and Beauty Devices
Newkin Korea today announced that it has been named the world's No. 1 selling beauty and wellness device company by Euromonitor. Newkin has been recognised for its technology and expertise in the global market, providing differentiated beauty and wellness solutions through its digital platform and innovative smart devices.
Starting with the Galvanic Spa system in 2001, Newkin has introduced a diverse lineup of devices covering the face and body, and has been steadily gaining popularity among consumers through popular products such as the Aegirac Face Galvanic Spa + and Aegirac Boost. In particular, the Aegirac Lumispa iO is a smart cleansing device that provides deep cleansing and skin fitness effects at the same time.
Last year, Newkin launched its first wellness device, the Agilac Wellspa iO. The product uses microcurrents to quickly improve tired body skin before and after exercise, setting a new standard for post-workout skin care.
Newkin offers a personalised beauty and wellness experience through its smart solutions app Vera, which leverages Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning technology. The app works with Agilent Lumispa iO and Agilent Wellspa iO to create an optimised skincare routine based on the user's skin type and condition, and also provides tracking features to manage device usage habits and cycles.
"With more than 20 years of device product innovation being recognised, we will continue to build on our reputation as the world's leading beauty and wellness device company through continued product innovation and customer service," said a Newkin representative.
** Geochang-gun cruises on a rural tour that blends wellness and nature***.
Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam, announced on the 30th that the 'Mysterious Wellness, Geochang' rural tour, which was selected for the '2024 Rural Creative Tour Support Project', has successfully completed its fifth trip, with bookings for the peak summer months of July and August. This time, 30 active seniors in their 40s and 50s participated in the trip and had a healing time through nature and wellness experiences in Geochang.
'Mysterious Wellness, Geochang' The tour began with a welcome tea at a sixth-order industrial farmhouse on the first day. Next, they visited Geochang Anti-Aging Healing Land, home to Korea's first Y-shaped suspension bridge, took a forest bath, and made Geochang apple rose pie at the Apple Theme Park. Finally, the first day ended with a soak in Gajo Onsen to relieve physical and mental fatigue.
The second day was spent strolling through the lotus marshes of Geochang Iris Garden and tasting Daewoo (wormwood-fed Geochang beef) grilled meat at the Sky Rain Experimental Village. "Geochang is becoming a new tourist destination through 'Mysterious Wellness, Geochang'," said Geochang County Governor Koo In-mo, "I hope you will come back to enjoy the anti-aging healing land, Geochang Iris Garden, and the beautiful autumn scenery of Gamaksan Mountain."
The Rural Creative Tour Support Project is a project in which local rural experience village councils, cultural foundations, social enterprises, and private travel agencies work together to plan and operate creative tourism products using local resources.
** Seogwipo Healing Forest, selected as the best in the country for its wellness and barrier-free sharing path**.
Seogwipo Healing Forest's 'Nogorok Barrier-Free Sharing Path' was selected as the best case in the country in the 2024 Green Infrastructure Utilisation Best Practice Competition. Organised by the Korea Forest Service, the contest evaluates the performance of green infrastructure projects created between 2019 and 2023, and the Seogwipo Healing Forest was highly commended for its combination of wellness and barrier-free environment.
The Nogorok Barrier-Free Path was built in 2017, 1.0 kilometres in 2021, 0.8 kilometres in 2023, and 2.0 kilometres in 2023, with a total length of 3.8 kilometres, and adopts an eco-friendly approach that utilises Jeju cedar preservative wood to increase local wood utilisation and preserve existing forests. The barrier-free path has resonated with visitors from all walks of life, with approximately 2,000 people with disabilities visiting in 2023.
Seogwipo Healing Forest runs forest healing programmes for the elderly and the disabled, and conducts various forest welfare activities such as wellness forest healing festivals and regional cooperation policies. In October this year, a special programme for people with walking disabilities will be developed and offered. In addition, the city recently extended a 160-meter decked forest path to improve accessibility from the entrance of the barrier-free sharing path to the healing centre.
Seogwipo City has been participating in green funding projects since 2017 and has won several awards for its barrier-free paths in the Healing Forest and Seogwipo Natural Recreation Forest. This year, the city has applied for the 2025 Green Fund Competition to extend the barrier-free sharing path in Seogwipo Natural Recreation Forest by 600 metres. Seogwipo City plans to continue to actively hold various forest experiences and cultural events to become a forest recreation mecca that can coexist with nature and coexist with local residents.
** Gansam Architects opens a new path in architecture with a wellness space**.
Gansam Architects will hold a forum on the theme of 'Wellness Space' at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul on the 31st. Kim Tae-sung, CEO of Gansam Architects, said the forum will explore the future of architectural spaces related to wellness and explore ways to develop them in industrial terms. The forum, a rare event in the architecture industry, will bring together experts from various fields to discuss the convergence of the wellness and hospitality industries.
Kim explained that after the pandemic, people's desire for a "good life" has been expressed as a social phenomenon called wellness, and the organisers aim to solve social problems by connecting architecture and various industries. "Architects have the role of exploring changes in people and society and implementing them into space," he said, emphasising the various spatial approaches to wellness that go beyond the function of architecture.
Kansam Architects has already successfully applied the concept of wellness in offices and hospitals, and sees the need for change in the housing sector. In particular, he emphasised the need to move beyond functional convenience to wellness spaces in housing. "There are many possibilities in apartment buildings, and the perception of housing is changing," Kim said, referring to the need to incorporate wellness elements in housing.
He also pointed out the need to recognise that Gansam Architects is committed to creating high-quality architecture, even if it costs more. "A certain cost is inevitable to make a good product, and this can contribute to bringing high-quality architecture to Korea like in Japan and the UK," he said. He added that new approaches such as automation and modular housing are needed to address issues such as the recent rise in construction costs and the increase in foreign unskilled labour.
Currently, Gansam Architects, through its subsidiary Gansam Life Design, is introducing mobile wooden tiny houses that align with wellness trends, and is working on the Tiny Resort and a co-village project in Goseong, Gangwon Province. "We will lead various changes to realise a healthy life and a healthy society," said Kim, adding that the company plans to continue contributing to the development of wellness spaces.
** Kimberly-Clark's wellness app 'Daldabang' provides menstrual health information and community demand***.
Hanwha Kimberly announced today that it has confirmed the demand for menstrual health information and community among women through its wellness app 'Daldabang'. According to a survey of 1,169 users, the main reasons for using the app were to record their menstrual cycle (72 per cent), get menstrual health information (56 per cent) and community (19 per cent). This is driven by the recognition that the menstrual cycle is an important indicator of women's health.
According to the survey, users prefer professional menstrual health information, with "Doctor's Column" (33%) and "Sanitary Napkin Exploration" (17%) being the most popular content. In addition, 1020s wanted empathy for menstrual pain and menstrual symptoms, and 3040s wanted to share information related to pregnancy preparation and childbirth, highlighting the need for a community that spans the lifecycle.
Through Daldabang, Yuhan Kimberly provides a platform for women to get accurate information and connect with the community, and has run programmes such as the Daldabang Carbide Rod Class. The app aims to increase access to information on women's healthcare and make it easier for women to get the right menstrual health information.
** Yeongdeok Golden Fish Festival, a mecca for wellness tourism, opens on 2 August
Hosted by Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the "2020 Yeongdeok Golden Fish Festival" will be held from 2 to 4 August at Osipcheon Beach in Yeongdeok-eup. The theme of the festival is 'Nature's whispers that soothe the heart, captured in Yeongdeok's golden goldfish' and will provide visitors with healing opportunities to reflect the demand for wellness tourism.
Yeongdeok's hwanggwanggwal is known for its distinctive golden colour and watermelon scent, and was considered a precious ingredient in the Joseon Dynasty that was presented to the king. The festival will hold eight 'Hwanggeumgwaljeon Bandu Fishing Experience' sessions, offering participants a variety of prizes along with the thrill of catching the fish. There will also be free silverfish fishing for children, providing a special experience for families.
The family water play area will feature a variety of rides including water seesaws, air bounces, waterslides, and a new water gun survival, which is expected to be a big hit. Throughout the festival, there will be various performances, including themed busking performances such as magic, juggling, and bands, as well as mingling and singing sessions by local clubs.
"I hope you can heal your tired body and mind in the clean and cool Osipcheon at this festival, which provides an opportunity to relieve daily stress in a healthy way," said Kim Kwang-yeol, Yeongdeok-gun.
The festival will provide a healing time for visitors with various experiences and programmes aimed at wellness tourism.
** Yeosu City launches wellness-focused 'Yeosu Bay Renaissance Project' in earnest**.
Yeosu City, South Jeolla Province, announced on the 30th that it has started implementing the 'Yeosu Bay Renaissance Mid- to Long-term Comprehensive Development Plan' in earnest, putting a total of 61 projects into action. The project is part of the 'Yeosu Development Centenary System' that aims to develop the city's five bays in a balanced manner according to their respective characteristics.
In particular, the plan has a vision of 'Yeosu as a future maritime city where islands and the sea coexist' and will develop Yeosu Bay as a wellness-centred base as follows:
- Yeoju Bay: A sustainable marine and ecological conservation base
- Jangsu Bay: marine healing and wellness centre
- Gamak Bay: Marine leisure and culture centre
- Yeosu Hae Bay: marine tourism and convention centre
- Gwangyang Bay: a base for future new growth green industries
In this regard, the city has identified 61 tasks over the past 10 months, which have been divided into short-, medium- and long-term tasks, assigned responsible departments, and started implementation. It plans to check the progress of the tasks on a quarterly basis and transparently disclose the progress to citizens.
"Achieving sustainable development centred on wellness while preserving the natural environment is the key to the renaissance of Yeosu Bay," said Yeosu Mayor Jung Jung-myung, "and we will implement it at a fast pace so that citizens can experience it firsthand."
With wellness and sustainable development at its core, the project aims to achieve a balanced development that makes the most of Yeosu's nature and culture.
** Wellness-focused medical tourism competes with localised strategies**.
Medical tourism is revitalising globally, and each region is strengthening its competitiveness by customising its strategy. As the industry bounces back from its decline during COVID-19, countries are playing to their strengths to promote medical tourism.
Dubai is actively attracting medical tourism with its easy medical visa and airport support services. It welcomed around 670,000 medical tourists in 2022, and has partnered with international healthcare organisations to provide high-quality medical services.
India has a range of startups offering comprehensive services to boost medical tourism, and is expecting 7.3 million medical tourists this year. They offer a wide range of services to support medical tourism, including medical visa processing, travel assistance, translation, and more.
The Czech Republic is expanding medical tourism by combining high-tech medicine with a spa culture, and offers specialised services such as infertility, cardiology, and plastic surgery, making it popular with international medical professionals.
Phuket, Thailand, is positioning itself as Asia's health and wellness tourism hub with the Andaman Wellness Expo, offering a range of wellness services including yoga and meditation. A wellness economic corridor project is also underway in Phuket and Krabi.
Bulgaria has the largest number of hospitals and clinics in the European Union, with dental treatments and cosmetic surgery emerging as popular medical tourism destinations.
South Korea is also working hard to attract medical tourism. Major local governments, including Seoul, Incheon, and Busan, are promoting medical tourism strategies tailored to their respective regions. Incheon held a medical tourism briefing in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Seoul held a health consultation and medical tourism briefing in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The city of Busan has opened the Busan Medical Tourism Business Centre, secured government funding through the Wellness and Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Competition, and plans to provide various support.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 605,768 foreign patients visited South Korea last year, a 144.2 per cent increase from 2022. This was a record high as medical institutions increased their efforts to attract foreign patients.
These wellness-focused medical tourism strategies are part of efforts by countries to increase their competitiveness in the medical tourism market and attract international medical tourists with tailored services that are tailored to local characteristics.
** Wellness-focused Education Development Zone Selected for Donghae, Taebaek, Samcheok, and Jeongseon Counties
Lee Cheol-kyu, a member of the National Assembly, announced on the 30th that Donghae City, Taebaek City, Samcheok City, and Jeongseon County have been selected for the second round of the Ministry of Education's 'Education Development Zone Pilot Area Competition'. As a result, four cities and counties in Gangwon-do have been designated as education development zones, enabling them to build a foundation for customised education.
SEZs are projects in which local governments and education offices collaborate with universities and industries to improve the quality of public education in a region. The selected pilot areas will be piloted for three years, and after a comprehensive evaluation, they will be officially designated as SEZs. During this period, various regulations will be relaxed and a special grant of up to 10 billion won in local education finance will be provided.
Donghae City aims to become an 'Inspiring Education City that Impresses the Entire Life Cycle' and is promoting various initiatives such as creating a youth education town, innovating digital education, and fostering future industrial talent. Taebaek City plans to enhance local education competitiveness by building the Dream Tantan Seam and fostering Gangwon-type Meister High School under the theme of 'Tantan Taebaek Rising Again with Education.
Samcheok City aims to revitalise the region by linking universities and local industries, strengthening care, and operating autonomous public schools with the goal of the 'Edupia Samcheok Education Development Zone'. Jeongseon-gun is planning to foster local specialised village schools under the theme of 'Wellness Jeongseon', operate autonomous public schools, and establish a talent development center for public academies.
"I expect that the selection of the SEZ will create a regionally tailored education system, and I am happy to realise the promises I made during the election campaign," said Lee Chul-gyu. He added that he will continue to do his best to improve local educational conditions.
** Wellness, Smorgasbord, and Tea Demand Surges***.
As summer beverage consumption increases, wellness and luxury trends are driving growth in the tea market. According to a report by OpenSurvey, beverage consumption has been on the rise for the past four years, and tea is on the rise in popularity. This is especially true among wellness and health-conscious consumers.
The domestic tea market grew from KRW 1.2 trillion in 2018 to KRW 1.28 trillion in 2022, an increase of more than 28 per cent. Female consumers prefer tea, and fruit and herbal flower teas and grain teas are popular. As the culture of brewing your own tea spreads, the smorgasbord trend is making an impact.
'Tea Omakase' offers guests the opportunity to enjoy premium teas at a relatively affordable price, and the programme at L'Méridien Seoul Myeongdong has been so popular that reservations for the programme are booked out. Amorepacific's 'Osulloc' is also performing well in the premium tea market, and the entry of overseas premium tea brands such as Kusumiti into Korea is also reflecting the smorgasbord trend.
In the café industry, tea-based drinks are gaining popularity. Harley's is expanding the size of its tea menu and increasing the proportion of non-coffee beverages it sells. Kombucha is also gaining traction as an alternative to soda, and companies such as Tizen and Jardin are gaining market share with kombucha products that emphasise health and inner beauty.
"Generation MZ's new sense of challenge and healthy leisure trends are driving demand for tea," said an industry insider. The growth of the tea market is expected to continue due to the influence of wellness and smorgasbord.
** Jeongseon-gun Overcomes Regional Disappearance Crisis with Wellness and Education Innovation***.
On the 30th, Jeongseon-gun was finally selected as a pilot area for the Education Development Zone. With this selection, Jeongseon-gun plans to combine wellness and educational innovation to overcome the crisis of regional attrition, foster talent and build a regional settlement system.
Jeongseon-gun has set a vision of "Wellness Jeongseon, a future talent city that nurtures Arari, a warm village," and plans to implement the local era through locally-led educational innovation and strengthening regional development strategies. Specifically, it will include the operation of an all-village family care system involving local governments, education offices, and villages, the development of regional specialised village schools by region, the operation of an agreement-type specialised high school linked to regional industrial strategy, Jeongseon-type autonomous public high school 2.0, and the establishment of a talent development center for public schools. It will also strive to expand the recruitment of local skilled talent in related organisations and support employment and start-ups.
"Jeongseon is in danger of disappearing, and it may be difficult to maintain high schools due to a sharp decline in the school-age population," said Choi Seung-jun, Jeongseon's governor, adding, "We hope that the designation of this pilot educational development zone will help promote the development of local education and overcome the crisis of local disappearance." "Education is the key to the future of Jeongseon and the growth engine of the region's development," he said, emphasising that the region will improve the employment and settlement conditions of local youth through the establishment of a care system and innovation in public education.
** Wellness with Cassia Sokcho's Summer Wellness Programme for All Ages**.
Cassia Sokcho is pleased to announce its Summer Wellness Moments programme on 3 and 4 August. Part of the Banyan Group, a global premium hospitality group, Cassia Sokcho will offer a range of wellness activities for all ages.
The programme has been designed in collaboration with lifestyle wellness consultancy Wellmi Wellness Solutions, and is open to everyone from children to adults and seniors. Highlights include yoga and meditation overlooking the East Sea sunrise at the 26th floor outdoor rooftop SkyPark, family activities with ocean views at the 5th floor Activa Fitness Centre, and Singing Ball meditation to experience inner calm.
These wellness programmes are exclusively for guests staying at Cassia Sokcho and are limited to a maximum of 12 guests per programme on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cassia Sokcho is a LEED certified eco-friendly hotel in the U.S., offering guests a complete escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in harmony with nature.
** Herbalife to Sponsor 'Han River Nightwalk 42K' Walk with Wellness
Herbalife reinforced its wellness image by participating as a sponsor in the '2024 Hangang Nightwalk 42K' held at Hangang Park in Yeouido, Seoul from 27 to 28 July. The event is a 'Han River Festival' programme sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Future Han River Headquarters and is a unique walking event with 42km, 22km and 15km courses. Approximately 14,000 people participated in the event, which attracted a large number of young people in their 20s and 30s.
At the event, Herbalife provided all participants with its Protein Bar Deluxe protein product and introduced its Healthy Breakfast Programme with a tasting event at a specially set up booth on the walking course. These activities helped participants replenish their energy and emphasised the importance of promoting wellness and health.
"We are pleased to be with so many citizens," said Seung-Wook Jung, CEO of Herbalife Korea, "and we will continue to support healthy and active lifestyles through high-quality, science-based nutrition products and solutions."
LOTTE DayNovate, the future of wellness, AI, and Lotte's future** **Lotte DayNovate
Lotte Group is accelerating its business transformation by focusing on AI and wellness. Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin has identified Lotte DayNovate (formerly Lotte Information & Communication) as a key affiliate for the future and instructed it to actively pursue new businesses such as AI and metaverse. Lotte Innovate has expanded its business beyond the role of a computer room to various fields such as AI, electric vehicle charging, and smart farms to discover future growth engines for the group.
In particular, in the AI business, it has developed the generative AI platform 'iMember' to provide customised AI solutions for affiliates, and has high expectations for the Metaverse business. Lotte Innovate is developing hyper-realistic content through its Metaverse subsidiary, Calibre, and plans to create new business models in conjunction with Lotte affiliates. Shin emphasises that AI and Metaverse will play an important role in the group's future growth by linking to wellness.
This innovative approach is contributing to Lotte's shift away from its traditional distribution and chemicals-centric businesses and towards new growth areas such as bio and wellness, electric vehicle charging, autonomous driving, and smart farms. Lotte plans to invest heavily in new businesses over the next five years to enhance the group's competitiveness.
** Song Bok-cheol, President of Busan Economic Promotion Agency, Leading Busan's Economy with Wellness and Future Projects
Song Bok-cheol, head of the Busan Economic Promotion Agency, said he will focus on innovative sectors such as wellness for the future of the Busan economy. In an interview with Pen & Mic on the 25th, Song emphasised that "we will discover and promote region-specific future businesses in the mid- to long-term to position Busan as a global hub city."
In particular, Song revealed plans to make wellness medical tourism a new economic engine for Busan. The city will provide specialised services in the wellness sector, such as health check-ups, to help revive the medical tourism industry. Song said that the city will promote wellness medical tourism through a tourism-linked type and a hospital-linked type, separating mild and severe patients. In addition, the centre will also strengthen support for the convenience of foreign patients, such as providing airport pick-up services and interpretation services.
The Busan Economic Promotion Agency is promoting demand-based policies to strengthen the self-sufficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises, and is supporting them to enhance their digital and green technology skills and explore overseas export markets. Song said the agency will focus on discovering new food products beyond the limits of existing businesses, and will also actively work on resolving corporate difficulties and ESG support projects.
Of the Busan Economic Promotion Agency's total budget of KRW154.3 billion, the majority is for business, focusing on SME voucher support and overseas sales support. Song said the agency will establish a management transformation plan and do its best to revitalise the local economy through cooperation with the city of Busan.
"SMEs and micro-enterprises in Busan are the core of the local economy," Song said, adding that the agency will strengthen tailored support to address their challenges.
** Wellness Trends and the Hot Spring Industry, Opportunities and Challenges in Busan
As interest in the hot spring industry has increased in recent years, Busan is also calling for the development of a hot spring industry in line with the wellness trend. At the first Hot Spring Industry Expo held in Korea last year, Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, and Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongnam-do were selected as Korea's first 'hot spring cities'. Each of these regions drew attention by proposing various ways to revitalise hot springs, including experiential tourism, healthcare spas, and thermal energy utilisation.
There are growing calls for Busan to join this trend. Professor Kang Hae-hae of Dongseo University said, "There is an opportunity to develop hot spring tourism products in line with the wellness trend and foster related industries," and stressed that Busan should explore new possibilities in the hot spring industry. Busan's Dongnae-gu and Haeundae-gu already have famous hot spring resources, but it has been pointed out that more active administration and innovative approaches are needed.
"To revitalise the hot spring industry, we need to explore new public projects and support measures from a long-term perspective, like Beppu and Dogo Onsen in Japan," said Kim Sung-guk, chairman of the Korea Hot Spring Association. The city of Busan also needs a strategic approach to revitalise its hot spring industry. The combination of the wellness and hot spring industries is expected to open up new economic opportunities for Busan.
** Wellness tourism and Jeju, the perfect combination of relaxation and gourmet food***.
Jeju is still a favourite destination for travelling, relaxation and gastronomy. Recently, Jeju Island has been highlighted as a centre for wellness and gastronomy tourism, and the UN Tourism Organization's Asia-Pacific Gastronomy Tourism Forum showcased the island's gastronomy tourism practices. Jeju Island's Sehwa Village and Dongbaek Village in Gujwa-eup have been recognised as the world's best tourist villages.
Jeju is known as a mecca for wellness tourism based on its pristine natural environment. Various wellness programmes such as nature and forest healing, healing meditation, and beauty spas are offered throughout the island. Wellness destinations are popular because they utilise Jeju's nature to help relieve stress and heal the mind and body.
Jeju Island is also strengthening its position as a work-cation destination. It is offering new working environments and blurring the lines between work and rest by supporting private work-cation offices for out-of-town companies and freelancers. The Jeju Daily is making efforts to increase the number of people living in Jeju by introducing the island's charms to more people through the '4th Jeju to Live' project.
This year's project will run from August to October, and participants from various regions will experience life on Jeju. Through these programmes, Jeju Island plans to boost the local economy and further establish its position as an attractive tourist destination that combines wellness and gourmet tourism.
** Wellness and Jeju Samdasu recorded the highest rating for the sixth consecutive year**.
For the sixth consecutive year, Jeju Samdasu has received the highest rating in an international proficiency assessment, recognising its quality in line with global wellness standards. The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corporation (CEO Baek Kyung-hoon), which produces Jeju Samdasu, has received a 'Satisfactory' rating in all categories in an international proficiency assessment organised by the Environmental Resources Association (ERA) in the United States. The assessment is a verification system for analytical capabilities accredited by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO/IEC 17043).
Jeju Samdasoo has demonstrated excellent analytical capabilities in 17 categories, including heavy metals, anions, and organic compounds. Jeju Samdasoo, which has never been subjected to any water quality-related administrative penalties since its launch in 1998, was the first domestic bottled water company to be designated as a 'Drinking Water Quality Inspection Agency' by the Ministry of Environment, enhancing its credibility.
Jeju Samdasu has also been awarded the Diamond Taste Award by the International Food and Beverage Council for seven consecutive years with the highest rating of three stars, recognising its outstanding water taste. This demonstrates that Jeju Samdasu has consistently maintained quality standards related to wellness, as water quality is considered an important factor in wellness tourism.
These achievements demonstrate that Jeju Samdasu is an excellent product that meets global standards for wellness tourism and contributes to the development of the wellness industry in Jeju.