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| August 2nd, 2024 Korea Wellness News |
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we explore the exciting developments in Korea Wellness as of August 2nd, 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.
Wellness in nature at Gangwon Land
Located in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do Province, Gangwon Land offers a wide range of attractions besides casinos, skiing and golf, but its wellness-focused tourism programme is particularly noteworthy. The word 'wellness' is a combination of well-being, happiness, and fitness, and refers to a state of physical, mental, and social health and stability. Gangwon Land is located at an altitude of 800 to 1300 metres at the foot of Baekunsan Mountain, making it the perfect place to escape from the city centre and relax in nature.
For travellers looking for healing, we recommend the Hiwon Wellness Centre and the High Healing Garden run by the Gangwon Land Forest Healing Foundation. The Hiwon Wellness Centre offers programs such as singing ball therapy, Pilates, aromatherapy classes, and tea classes, while the High Healing Garden offers various therapeutic programs such as art meditation, yoga, and forest healing. In particular, a programme that recommends herbal teas based on Sasang constitution has recently been introduced and is very popular.
The Gangwon Land Haiwon Undango Cable Car is a great way to enjoy trekking while admiring the beautiful natural scenery of Baekunsan Mountain. Once you reach the cable car, you can trek to Baekunsan Mountain Macheonbong or Dorongi Pond, where you can relax in nature and exercise at the same time.
The Haiyuan Cloud Farm, which opened on 31 July, is a place where you can interact with various animals and is very popular among families. Haiwon Water World is also a healthy summer holiday destination that uses the clean valley water from the Jeongseon Plateau, allowing visitors to enjoy water play without the smell of disinfectant.
Gangwon Land offers a variety of programmes and facilities for travellers seeking wellness and healing, providing a unique experience in nature.
Wellness and gastronomy tourism to combat localisation
Gastronomic tourism is gaining traction as a new approach to tackling the problem of localisation. Japan's experience has shown how to overcome localisation, and the convergence of wellness and local food is playing an important role.
Fujihisa Kinoshita, a professor at Kobe Shinwa University in Japan, points to population decline and the migration of young people to big cities as the main causes of regional decline, and argues that gourmet tourism is an effective way to revitalise regions. Professor Kinoshita explains that local food is a key factor in overcoming regional decline, and emphasises the importance of revitalising areas by linking tourism and accommodation. Examples such as Kyotango City, Japan, provide a model for combining seasonal food and lodging to attract tourists and revitalise the local economy.
Kyotango City's "Hwarak" offers traditional Japanese dining and lodging, which contributes significantly to the local economy. The traditional Japanese accommodation and dining experience is very popular with tourists, despite its high price, and further enhances the area's appeal.
Professor Kinoshita also emphasises the importance of targeting the right audience and adhering to tradition for the success of gastronomy tourism. Osaka's Shinwa and Kankoshi neighbourhoods are considered successful examples of this, targeting young and middle-aged people respectively, and offering food and services that make the most of the region's characteristics.
It is also argued that direct support from local governments is necessary to overcome localisation through gourmet tourism. Professor Kinoshita emphasises the importance of providing direct funding to food businesses to maintain local identity and attract tourists. This is seen as an effective way to revitalise the local economy and encourage young people to settle in the area.
In conclusion, the combination of wellness and gastronomy tourism is becoming an important strategy to overcome local decline, and it is an approach that should be considered for the sustainability and revitalisation of local economies.
Wellness and AI healthcare: Sears CEO Young Shin Lee shares the secret to Sears' success
Young Shin Lee, CEO of Sears Technology, shared his philosophy and success in the healthcare business that combines AI and wellness. Lee explained that the company's strategy of "first do what makes money" led them to target insurance reimbursement. He emphasised that this approach played an important role in Sears' listing success.
Founded in 2009, Sears Technology disrupted the market by developing telemedicine devices based on AI and sensor technology. In particular, its electrocardiography wearable devices have significantly improved the price and convenience of electrocardiograms, making them accessible to primary care providers. This technology has facilitated early detection of heart disease and increased access to healthcare.
Sears has also gained attention for its subscription-based remote patient monitoring solution Mobicare, which provides devices and software to hospitals for free and generates revenue through subscription fees. Lee said this model has helped the company achieve a win-win situation with hospitals while also gaining recognition for its technology.
Sears' business is expected to expand further once the US telehealth policy is adopted in Korea. The service that allows patients to take self-measurements and receive data analyses at home through telemedicine devices is expected to contribute to reducing sudden cardiovascular deaths. Mr Lee added that this innovative approach will lead to significant advancements in the medical field of wellness and AI.
Mayfield Hotel Seoul's Summer Events with Wellness
Mayfield Hotel Seoul will be hosting a KakaoTalk Plus friend add-on event for the summer, highlighting wellness and value for money. The event, which will run through August 2024, is designed to reward guests for their interest and love for Mayfield Hotel, and guests will receive a double set of GBH hand cream when they authenticate their KakaoTalk Plus friend at the hotel front desk upon check-in.
In addition, guests who book through Mayfield Hotel's official website will receive an additional 12 per cent discount on their room rate and access to wellness facilities such as the swimming pool and gymnasium, making it an affordable summer stay. The hotel's 30,000 square metres of spacious grounds, beautiful gardens, and hydrangea blooming in the summer make it an attractive wellness destination.
Mayfield Hotel is offering a unique holiday experience for the summer holidays with its "Dance Vacation" and "Dance, Ready Action" packages. The packages include a one-night stay in a room, a dance class and a short foam shoot, and come with a double set of GBH hand cream and Mayfield Kids Rashguard.
In this way, Mayfield Hotels is offering guests a unique summer holiday experience that combines wellness and value for money.
Wellness and ESG: WE Hotel Jeju receives 'ESG Excellent Tourism Certification'
WE Hotel Jeju, located in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, has been awarded the 'ESG Excellent Tourism Certification for Wellness Tourism' by the Korea Management Certification Institute on 26 July 2024. The certification recognises WE Hotel Jeju's excellent wellness tourism practices as a result of contributing to the promotion of sustainable tourism through tourism activities that meet ESG standards, which evaluate a company's environmental, social, and governance practices.
Since 2014, WE Hotel Jeju has operated a wellness centre in Jeju's natural environment, offering unique hydrotherapy programmes such as 'Haeam Hydro', which uses Jeju's water. Since its opening in 2012, WE Hotel Jeju has been benchmarking wellness tourism in Europe, offering various wellness programmes that provide stress relief and safe relaxation to its guests.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the hotel ran a Healing Stay programme for public healthcare workers and other high-stress occupations, with 747 medical staff and over 800 guests participating. The programme, which combines hotel rooms, food and beverage, and wellness programmes, was very well received.
Since 2014, WE Hotel Jeju has been Korea's first premium health resort that combines a hospital and hotel, offering wellness therapies based on the nature and water of Jeju Island. The hotel has been included in the Korea Tourism Organization's "Top 25 Wellness Tourism Destinations" list several times, and in 2024, it was named Korea's "Outstanding Wellness Destination".
"WE Hotel Jeju provides authentic wellness experiences and professional medical services, and offers package programmes aimed at improving the health of our guests," said a hotel representative.
New horizons in wellness tourism, HIWON RESORT acquires ESG Excellent Tourism Certification
Hiwon Resort announced on 2 August 2024 that it has been awarded the 'ESG Excellence Tourism Certification' in the Social (S) category by the Korea Management Certification Institute. The certification is the first certification system to evaluate ESG activities in the tourism industry, and Hiwon Resort was awarded the certification for its high rating in the wellness tourism sector.
Hiwon Resort opened the Hiwon Wellness Centre in May last year, offering a variety of wellness programmes including yoga, meditation, nature experiences, and herbal tea therapy, which have been well received by visitors. Recently, the resort has introduced new programmes such as 'Tree Doctor Kim Sabu' and 'Picnic in the Forest' to enhance its healing activities with nature.
"Hiwon Resort has established itself as a wellness tourism destination using the natural environment," said Lee Min-ho, head of marketing planning at Gangwon Land, "and we will continue to strive for regional coexistence and sustainable tourism based on our ESG certification."
Wellness and Donghae City, creating an attractive specialised city with night tourism
Donghae City is transforming into a city specialising in night tourism to attract tourists. Having recently completed a project to create a dawn light theme park in Chuam, the city has invested a total of KRW 2.1 billion to develop a variety of night scenery contents linked to Chuam's tourism resources. The project was divided into three stages: the first stage was the installation of electrical piping and lighting, the second stage was the installation of sculpture-specific lighting, and the third stage was the expansion of specialised landscape lighting.
In the Chuam Sculpture Park, 31 sculptures, security lights, tree lights, and media poles have been installed to create a beautiful walking path at night. In addition, the third phase of the project, themed "The Flame of Chuam," added eight spots, including a rainbow tunnel, railing landscape lights, and tree lights, to provide new attractions for tourists.
During the summer months, families can enjoy the Donghae Sea during the day and the newly transformed Candlestick Rock at night with colourful lights. Donghae City is considering extending the operation of train tourism products and night city tour buses targeting the Seoul metropolitan area and the Busan and Gyeonggi business districts, and plans to attract tourists through social media events and incentives.
"It is important to increase the length of stay of tourists to revitalise the local economy," said Lee Sun-woo, head of the Tourism Development Division, "We will make Donghae City a nighttime attraction and strive to develop wellness and specialised products."
Wellness and holiday: Take care of your health with natural hot springs
Two hotels in Jeju Island and Donghae have been attracting attention from travellers looking for a clean break during the summer holiday season. Both hotels offer a variety of wellness programmes and natural hot springs to help improve skin health and recover from fatigue.
WE Hotel, located on Jeju Island, offers a range of wellness facilities using volcanic bedrock water. This water, which comes from the bedrock under Hallasan Mountain, is rich in minerals such as bicarbonate, vanadium, and magnesium, which are effective for skin beauty and fatigue recovery. WE Hotel offers a variety of functional pools, including an outdoor pool, indoor pool, toddler pool, jacuzzi, and meditation pool, and all water and dishes are prepared with natural volcanic bedrock water, which does not smell of disinfection and is suitable for those with sensitive skin.
The Donghae Bosyang Hot Spring Convention Hotel, located in Donghae, utilises natural bedrock seawater and Jijangsu hot springs, which are excellent for skin beauty and fatigue recovery. The hotel's seawater hot springs are rich in minerals, while the Jijangsu water, drawn from 900 metres underground, is good for atopic skin and its salinity is beneficial for skin health. There's also a 50-metre indoor pool for adults and a children's pool, Jizhuangsu hot springs offering hot and cold baths, a spa and aqua fitness programme. You can also enjoy a natural sand bath via a suspension bridge that leads directly from the hotel to Mangsang Beach.
Both of these hotels offer a wide range of wellness-related benefits, making them ideal holiday destinations for both health and relaxation.
Wellness and local economic development: Yeosu City passes ordinance to promote wellness tourism
The Yeosu City Council passed three ordinances during its 239th special session, including the 'Yeosu City Wellness Tourism Promotion and Support Ordinance'. The ordinance focuses on developing the city's wellness tourism industry and revitalising the local economy.
The 'Yeosu City Wellness Tourism Promotion and Support Ordinance', introduced by Representative Koo Min-ho, aims to discover and foster wellness tourism resources that are unique to the region. The ordinance includes the establishment of a wellness tourism advisory committee and the development of wellness tourism programmes, products, and resources (content) to systematically support the wellness tourism industry in Yeosu.
In addition, Yong-Jin Lee introduced the 'Yeosu City Pet Travel Promotion Ordinance'. The ordinance stipulates the establishment of a basic plan to promote pet travel, promotion and marketing, cost support, and the creation of pet-friendly parks.
Representative Jin Myung-sook introduced the 'Yeosu City Ordinance on the Prohibition of Burning in Forest Adjacent Areas, etc.', which includes administrative guidance for mowing in forest adjacent areas, support for high-performing villages and farms, publicity, and imposing fines on violators.
As a result, Yeosu City is promoting local development in various fields, including fostering wellness tourism, promoting pet travel, and protecting forests.
Wellness and Development in Asan: Promoting Tourism and Expanding Smoke-Free Zones
The city of Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, held an expanded executive meeting in August to prepare for the 'Year of Visiting Asan' and announced plans to identify and promote several projects to develop tourism and wellness. Asan Mayor Park Kyung-gwi directed multifaceted efforts to develop tourism resources and stabilise people's livelihoods in preparation for next year's 'Year of Visiting Asan'.
At the meeting, Mayor Park emphasised that all departments should find projects related to the 'Asan Visit Year'. In particular, he mentioned the need for tourism development that integrates the Dogo Art Hall, Ongi Experience Centre, and Dogo World Flower and Botanical Garden in connection with tourist destinations in the western region, and instructed them to find ways to support the Dogo World Flower and Botanical Garden, which has been struggling with electricity bills recently.
In addition, Asan City requested that the old logo currently in use be replaced in order to update the brand identity (BI) of Art Valley Asan, and encouraged the development of a character using an eagle owl. This is part of efforts to increase the brand value of the tourism and wellness sector in preparation for next year's 'Visit Asan Year'.
Other civic-related guidelines include expanding and creating new non-smoking areas. Asan City will expand the smoking-free zone for children and youth from 10 metres to 30 metres, and newly designate areas around elementary, middle, and high school facilities as smoke-free. This aims to improve the educational environment and create a pleasant environment.
Asan City will continue to strive to revitalise the local economy by linking wellness and tourism, and improve the health and quality of life of its citizens.
LOTTE WELLFOOD increases operating profit by 30.3 per cent due to wellness new products
LOTTE WELLFOOD announced today that its operating profit increased 30.3% year-on-year to KRW63.3 billion on a consolidated basis in the second quarter of 2024. Operating margin rose to 6.1% from 4.7% in the same period, while net profit surged 227.9% from KRW12.4 billion to KRW40.7 billion. Sales were up slightly to 1.44 trillion won.
Despite a decline in sales due to the rationalisation of its food channel, Lotte Wellfoods improved its operating profit due to the destocking of high-cost inventories for processing and increased sales volume during the peak season for ice cream. In particular, the launch of new health and wellness products, Easy Protein and 0㎉ popsicles, and the expansion of sales played an important role in defending sales.
In addition, export sales and operating profit increased by 14.3% and 65.2%, respectively. In the global business, sales and operating profit increased by 5.6% and 37.6%, respectively, due to expanding sales in India, stabilising raw material unit costs, and increasing productivity. LOTTE Well Food contributed to the overall performance improvement through growth in the wellness products and healthcare markets.
NAVER Snow sells wellness beauty brand Amuse to Shinsegae International
NAVER's subsidiary Snow announced today that it will sell its vegan wellness beauty brand AMUSE to Shinsegae International. The sale marks the first time Snow has successfully sold a subsidiary since its establishment. The 77.59% stake is valued at KRW 71.3 billion, and Snow sold the stake for KRW 55.3 billion, realising a profit of approximately 382%.
Amuse is a vegan wellness beauty brand launched by SNOW in 2017, which is very popular among the MZ generation and has successfully grown in Korea, North America, Japan, and Southeast Asia. With a compound annual growth rate of 176 per cent over the past five years, the brand has grown from KRW 36.8 billion in sales last year to KRW 25.4 billion in the first half of this year alone.
Through the acquisition of Amuse, Shinsegae International plans to expand its global beauty business and increase its share in the North American and Japanese markets. Shinsegae International's strong distribution channels and experience in operating beauty brands are expected to contribute to Amuse's global growth. The acquisition is analysed to be an important step in securing overseas fans and expanding overseas business.
Wellness and AI technology: 6 innovative health management tools
The convergence of wellness and AI technology has led to the emergence of innovative healthcare tools. Here are six wellness services that leverage AI technology for health management, mental care, sleep, pet diagnostics, and more.
**1. Samsung's Galaxy Ring
Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Ring is an innovative wellness feature that uses AI. The 2g ring collects sleep status, heart rate, and breathing information to provide an energy score every morning, and it also supports automatic exercise detection and heart rate notifications. The collected data can be sent to the Samsung Health app to monitor your personal health status.
**2. LG Electronics' Breeze
LG Electronics' Breeze is a wellness tool in the form of Bluetooth earphones that provides music to control stress and concentration through real-time brainwave measurement. It has 80 different types of sound content built-in, and it improves the quality of life by providing customised music that fits the user's situation.
**3. Algocare's Nutrition Engine***.
Algocare's Nutrition Engine is a device that provides personalised nutrition through AI. After entering the user's health condition, the AI analyses the necessary nutritional ingredients and recommends appropriate nutritional products. In addition, you can check the intake and remaining amount in real time through the nutrition bottle.
**4. aipopet's T.T.C.E. Care
TTCare is an app service that analyses the health status of pets by taking photos of them with a smartphone. Using AI technology, it analyses the symptoms of animal diseases and provides symptom prediction and management methods to effectively manage your pet's health.
**5. Cacao's Pasta
Kakao provides an app service that allows users to manage their blood sugar in real time through Pasta. The app works with a continuous glucose monitor to visually check blood sugar changes and provides AI-based guidance to help you stay in a stable range.
**6. Clarify
Clypie is an AI-based mental care platform that analyses users' problems and concerns and recommends the most suitable counsellor. It provides ongoing mental care through a 24-hour online counselling service and recently opened offline counselling centres.
These innovative wellness tools leverage AI technology to support personalised healthcare and improve quality of life.