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| August 30th, 2024 Korea Wellness News |
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we explore the exciting developments in Korea Wellness as of August 30th, 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.
**Sexual wellness now available at convenience stores, Men's Lupe now available at GS25**.
Sexual wellness brand TENGA has announced that its smartphone sperm monitoring kit, Men's Lupe, is now available at GS25 convenience stores. TENGA plans to increase the accessibility of its sexual wellness products and strengthen communication with consumers by entering convenience stores.
In recent years, the number of male infertility patients has increased, and the high cost of fertility tests and treatment has become an economic burden. In response, Tenga has launched Men's Lupe, a simple at-home sperm test that provides an opportunity for individuals to check their sexual health. Men's Lupe includes a 550x magnifying glass to check sperm status without complicated tests, and is affordable at around 20,000 won.
In addition, Playgel has also been introduced for consumers who suffer from vaginal dryness. Playgel is a water-soluble lubricant that minimises stickiness like water and is easy to clean after use.
A GS25 representative said, ‘We are increasing customer convenience by introducing products that reflect various consumer lifestyles, and we will continue to expand the accessibility of sexual wellness products through collaboration with Tenga.’ ‘We will make various efforts to help more people maintain a healthy sexual culture, starting with convenience stores,’ said a representative from Tenga Korea.
Men's Lupe is available at select GS25 stores, and for more information on the product and store locations, please visit Tenga's official website.
**Thursday Island's Wellness Campaign in the Great Outdoors of Mongolia
Thursday Island has unveiled its autumn 2024 campaign, featuring a ‘Digital Detox’ theme set in the vast nature of Mongolia. The brand, which is developed by JIENKO, has unveiled a campaign that combines the stresses of modern life with Mongolia's beautiful nature and healing stories.
The campaign features two friends relaxing in nature and experiencing true happiness amidst the vast grasslands and unique landscapes of Mongolia. The campaign connects to the WELLNESS & MINDFULNESS theme and highlights the pursuit of recharging the mind in nature.
Model ZAYA, based in Mongolia's capital city of Ulaanbaatar, was featured in the campaign to match the brand's mood. The campaign also collaborated with a Mongolian nomadic family to capture the beauty of nature and tradition in the meadows and traditional homes of the ger.
In the campaign photos, various items such as dresses and outerwear with floral patterns, leather jackets with embroidered details, and trench coats are mixed and matched in a natural setting to convey the brand's unique sensibility. In addition, the brand's ‘small luxury’ accessory items such as printed bandanas, scarves, and socks have been enhanced.
‘Shot in the great outdoors of Mongolia, this season's campaign is an opportunity to revisit the brand's sensibility,’ said a brand representative. For the FW24 season, the brand will also be offering a promotion to give away a faux fur ‘vanity bag’ that can be used for travelling with cosmetics and other useful items.
**2024 Beauty & Healthcare Show to be a festival of wellness and K-beauty trends***.
The 2024 Beauty & Healthcare Show will be held from 29 to 31 August at Songdo Convensia Hall 4, providing an opportunity to see the latest trends in wellness and K-beauty. Hosted by Incheon Metropolitan City and co-organised by Incheon Tourism Organization, KOTRA and World Exhibition, the exhibition will showcase the latest beauty and healthcare products and provide a variety of hands-on experiences.
The exhibition features 94 companies from cosmetics, skincare, healthcare, and wellness services, and is organised into various themed pavilions, including the ‘Aesthetics Zone’, ‘OEM/ODM Zone’, and ‘Overseas Brands Zone’. In particular, ‘Wellmedia Festa’, which introduces Incheon's wellness and medical tourism contents, will showcase the charm of wellness tourism by providing information and experiences on natural and marine healing and beauty medical care.
The business programme of the show has also been enhanced with various professional seminars, including beauty marketing strategies and vegan certification competitiveness. KOTRA will support the business performance of K-beauty SMEs through export consultations, OEM/ODM, and clinical consultations, as well as counselling on entering platforms such as Hwahae and Aliexpress.
At the ‘Makeover Show’, famous beauty artists will perform relay beauty demonstrations for the public, and there will be various experience events such as customised cosmetics making, aesthetic care treatments, and Incheon wellness and healing experiences.
The theme of the exhibition is ‘beautiful harmony between the outer and inner worlds’, maximising the synergy between the beauty and healthcare industries and showcasing innovative products and technologies.
**2024 Car-free Submerged Bridge Festival, a colourful programme that blends wellness and art
From 1 September to 27 October, the city of Seoul will host the 2024 Car-Free Submerged Bridge Tuk Tuk Tuk Tuk Festival every Sunday at Banpo Han River Park Submerged Bridge and Moonlight Square. The festival consists of a variety of programmes spanning art, health and play, with a special focus on wellness.
The festival kicks off on 1 September with the art project ‘99 Minutes of Art/99 Minutes Together’, which involves sharing seasonal dishes. Bridging urban and rural areas, the project will feature improvised performances while enjoying a seasonal feast in an installation created by artists and participants.
On 8 September, the Han River Runfesta will take place, offering a Masters Running Championship and various running experiences on the submarine bridge. On 22 September, ‘Sunset Yoga on the Submarine Bridge’ will be hosted by YouTuber Bapne, who has 500,000 subscribers, giving participants the opportunity to experience stretching and full-body circulation.
On 6 October, ‘Wellness Seoul’ will be held. The event will feature wellness-related programmes such as the ‘Slow Turtle Marathon’ with dogs, ‘Balance Cycle Zone’ for children, ‘Zumba Dance Class’ and ‘Music Concert’.
There will also be a ‘Me Too Fashion Model’ on 13 October, offering a unique experience for participants to walk the runway, and a challenge dance class with YouTuber ‘Dancing Bear’ on 20 October.
During the festival, there will also be a variety of permanent programmes, including the Submarine Bridge Night Market, Steamed Fry Market, Healing Submarine Bridge, and Live in Every Corner. The Submerged Bridge Night Market will feature a variety of food and local small business vendors, while the Tent Healing Zone will be open for private picnics.
On the closing day of the festival on 27 October, the Guerrilla Concert will feature jazz and classical performances, and the festival will end with a performance by the Han River Ambassadors.
**Parkroche Resort & Wellness to host ‘Autumn Melodies’ concert series combining wellness and music starting in September**.
Parkroche Resort & Wellness will host ‘Autumn Melodies’ concerts on the first Saturday of every month from September to November, with the beautiful scenery and sunset of Mount Gariwang as the backdrop. The concerts offer a unique experience that blends wellness and art.
In September, a performance with the theme of ‘Korean Harmony’ will be held on the rooftop. Guests can enjoy a beautiful blend of Korean dance with a fusion trio of daegeum, piano, and cello while taking in the panoramic views of Mt Gariwang and Mt Odaesan. Parkrosh's wellness teas and local specialities, such as dduk honey tea, yuzu tea, and Jeongseon's local speciality, surichuktteok, will be served, adding to the autumnal atmosphere.
In October, ‘Sunset Jazz Fantasy’ will be held at Parkrosh's Glass House. The Kwon Young Quartet, comprising of piano, trumpet, guitar, bass and drums, will perform a colourful jazz performance, presenting a variety of jazz genres in a melodious way.
In November, the Autumn Night Tango takes place in the Parkroche Lobby, where a tango quintet featuring bandoneon, violin, cello, bass and guitar will enthusiastically light up the autumn evening. Set against the backdrop of Richard Woods' birch art wall, guests can enjoy the deepening colours of autumn.
Each performance will take place on 7 September, 5 October and 2 November, starting at 7.30pm and lasting one hour. September's rooftop performances cost $25 per person and must be booked in advance. The October and November performances are free for Parkroche guests with no need to book.
The ‘Autumn Melodies’ concerts will enrich the deepening autumnal mood through the intersection of wellness and art.
**Garden Cities and Wellness: Highlighting the Need for Maintenance and Gardener Education
On 28 August, the need for strategic guidelines for the development of garden cities was highlighted at the ‘2024 Garden City Policy Forum’ held at the Grand Auditorium of the National Sejong Arboretum. The forum, co-hosted by the Architectural and Spatial Research Institute (AURI) and the Korea Forest Service, highlighted the importance of garden city maintenance and gardener education.
At the forum, officials from Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province, Korea Forest Service, and AURI presented the current status of garden city policies and the direction of development. Park Soo-mi, Team Leader of Seoul's Garden City Bureau, introduced Seoul's garden city policy and various garden types, explaining how to integrate greenery into citizens' daily lives. Nam Gye-won, Team Leader of Jeongseon County Government, Gangwon-do, presented Jeongseon's garden city plan and plans to revitalise the wellness tourism city. Kim Seok-moon, Chief of the Korea Forest Service, explained the concept and policy direction of garden cities, aiming to transform them into green cities that adapt to climate change.
AURI Research Fellow Kim Yong-guk explained the concept of garden cities and their multifunctional functions, and compared and analysed overseas examples and domestic garden city plans. Kim emphasised the role of gardeners in the creation of garden cities and the importance of systematic education. This is essential for garden cities to become sustainable wellness cities, not just a fad.
In the discussion, Inho Kim, director of the Life Forest Research Institute, pointed out the need for garden maintenance and gardeners' education, emphasising the importance of creating gardens in response to the climate crisis. Park Hee-sung, a research professor at Seoul National University, discussed the garden city approach of each local government and emphasised the importance of nature-friendly education. Nam Soo-hwan, Director of the Korea Arboretum and Garden Management Institute, raised the need for improved legal and institutional policies and noted the importance of building infrastructure for the successful implementation of garden cities.
The forum made it clear that garden cities should move in the direction of improving people's quality of life in combination with wellness. It shows that systematic maintenance and gardener education need to become an important strategy as garden cities develop.
**Wellness and Meditation: Realising World Peace and Peace of Mind at the 2024 International Meditation Congress
From 27 September to 1 October, the Korean Buddhist Order of Seon will host the SEON MEDITATION SUMMIT 2024 at major temples and meditation spaces across the country. The event is a large-scale international meditation festival with the theme of wellness and spiritual peace, with the aim of bringing peace of mind to the people and world peace.
The 2024 International Zen Festival is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and aims to modernise the practice of Zen, increase the number of meditators, build a widespread Zen infrastructure, and increase the social role of local temples. The event is attracting international attention with the participation of five internationally renowned Zen meditators from the United States, including Roshi Joan Halifax, Thubten Gyalpo, Chad Meng Tan, Poplu Monk and Jigme Rinpoche.
A welcome ceremony to kick off the event will be held on 27 September with over 200 guests, including monk Jeongkwan, a master of temple cuisine, and will feature a performance by BTENS, a Zen meditation project group. The official opening ceremony will take place on 28 September at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, where 30,000 attendees will be able to participate in a series of Zen presentations and activities under the theme of ‘Peace of Mind, World Peace through Zen Meditation’.
From 29 to 30 September, the festival will be held at major temples across the country, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Yeongnam, Honam, Chungcheong, Gangwon, and Gangwon, with meditation experiences and festivals for each level. These festivals will include experience booths and special lectures by international speakers. The event will conclude with an international conference and closing ceremony on 1 October with the theme ‘Serenity, Meditation Embracing the Challenges of the Age’.
Seonghwa said the event will be an opportunity to modernise the tradition of Korean Buddhism to realise wellness and peace with the people, proposing a UN-designated ‘World Meditation Day’ and contributing to the revitalisation of Korea's global wellness industry.
**Jeongseon to create a 63-kilometre circular forest path for wellness and healing
Jeongseon-gun has announced the creation of a 63-kilometre-long circular forest path, ‘Jeongseon Jjakbakgil’. The forest path will connect nine famous mountains in Jeongseon-eup and provide opportunities for wellness and healing by making full use of forest resources and the natural environment. ‘Jjadlebak’ means steeply sloping terrain in the Gangwon-do dialect, and the trail will be divided into three courses: Course 1, ‘Jjadlebak Culture Trail’ (16.3 kilometres), Course 2, ‘Jjadlebak Sky Trail’ (25.6 kilometres), and Course 3, ‘Jjadlebak Forest Trail’ (21.1 kilometres).
Course 1 is an easy-to-walk section that connects tourist attractions such as Byeongbangsan Military Park, Skywalk, and glamping sites. Route 2 is a route to experience historical resources and Arirang culture, including cultural elements of temples and zen temples. Course 3 will be a challenging course with steep mountain passes, passing through the terrain of the Korean Peninsula and sheep farms.
Jeongseon-gun plans to invest a total of KRW 2.5 billion by 2024 to begin construction on the second course and complete all courses by 2025. The project is expected to preserve the pristine natural environment and contribute to local tourism and economic revitalisation. ‘We will do our best to help people experience healing and wellness in the natural environment of Jeongseon,’ said Ji-hyung-gyu, head of the county forestry department.
**Popularising traditional liquor with wellness, New Look CEO Kim In-ji's vision***.
New Look CEO Kim In-jin is leading a new change by incorporating ‘wellness’ into the traditional liquor market. New Look is introducing products that meet the health and wellness trend through low-calorie, zero-sugar traditional liquor, especially targeting female consumers in 2030. The company aims to popularise traditional liquor by developing a variety of traditional liquors, including zero-sugar makgeolli.
When Kim founded New Look, he wanted to transform traditional liquor into a product that is light and easy to enjoy. Unlike traditional liquor, which was mainly limited to enthusiasts, New Look is trying to make traditional liquor an everyday drink. In particular, products such as zero-sugar rice wine emphasise its low-calorie and zero-sugar properties to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
New Look is also actively expanding into global markets. The US market is its main target, and it plans to appeal to US consumers through localisation strategies. Recently selected as a ‘TIPS’ programme by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, New Look has laid the foundation for its global expansion, and in the process is exploring various ways to promote Korean traditional liquor to the world.
‘We need to achieve both qualitative and quantitative growth in the traditional liquor market,’ Kim said, emphasising that New Look aims to communicate with the wider public by breaking down prejudices while pursuing high-quality traditional liquor. ‘New Look’ plans to open up new possibilities for traditional liquor and position itself in the market as a product that considers wellness and health.
**Mental care with wellness, GoodLife Labs moves into Gwanak S Valley***.
GoodLife Lab, a mental wellness solution startup, announced on the 30th that it is moving into Gwanak S Valley. Founded in January 2022, GoodLifeLab is a psychology-based startup led by CEO Inchul Choi that provides various solutions to improve personal and workplace wellness.
GoodLifeLab develops mental wellness testing tools based on psychological research, and currently offers personal happiness tests, workplace happiness tests, burnout tests, and leadership tests. They focus on scientifically measuring the wellness of individuals and organisations and providing tailored solutions.
‘GoodLifeLab aims to replace the existing organisational report service and is developing a dashboard for managers to reduce unit costs and mass produce,’ said Choi. GoodLifeLab's ‘Good Life School’ provides ultra-personalised customised solutions based on scientific diagnosis and supports concrete action solutions that can be implemented in daily life.
Currently, the Good Life School is being offered in a pilot phase to large Korean companies, and includes a lecture series and community action programmes. Other services include one-on-one interpretation sessions, wellness content provision, and HR solutions tailored to companies.
In collaboration with psychiatrist Na Jong-ho and professor Lee Ji-sun, GoodLifeLab holds events such as mind-charging concerts, and is expanding its reach through YouTube, Instagram, and brunches.
‘Employee mental care should be approached as an active investment by companies, not just welfare,’ said Choi, ’and we hope to contribute to a happier life for many people through data-driven research provided by GoodLifeLab.’
GoodLifeLab is composed of PhD and Master researchers from Seoul National University's psychology and social work departments, as well as coaching experts, designers, and developers, and is providing innovative solutions in the field of mental wellness.
**Phasitiv Hotel Gangnam Seolleung opens, where wellness and multiculturalism meet***.
Wellness brand Positive Hotel announced today that it has opened a programme combining wellness food and yoga in Seolleung, Gangnam, as well as a multicultural space. The brand offers a Mediterranean diet and various exercise programmes, with a 150-square-metre facility and a team of wellness coaches comprising global yoga masters.
The new location in Seolleung is a multi-cultural space combining a premium grocery store and yoga studio, and follows the flagship store in Dosan. More than just selling healthy food, the hotel combines F&B and yoga to provide wellness programmes for the body and mind, creating a unique wellness culture.
‘Hotel guests are looking for authenticity, healthy food, exercise, and community with people who share similar values rather than price,’ said a representative from Phasitic Hotels. ’With the opening of our wellness complexes in Dosan and Seolleung, in the heart of Seoul's city centre, we want to make it possible for busy modern people to experience a daily routine of healthy food, yoga, and meditation.’
In addition, Positive Hotels will introduce a membership scheme to provide more benefits to its guests. In September, the hotel will be the wellness partner at Korea International Art Fair (Kiaf) SEOUL, the largest art fair in Korea, where it will showcase its wellness food and programmes for five days among global galleries. The event will take place from 4-8 September at COEX.
**Convergence of Wellness and Medical Tourism, ‘Medical Tourism in Korea 2024’ Forum***.
The ‘Korea Medical Tourism 2024’ forum was held on 28 August at Seoul Convention & Exhibition Centre to explore the expansion of medical tourism in Korea and improve the system. The forum was organised by the Korea Tourism Institute and the Korea Medical Tourism Promotion Association, and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. About 100 people from hospitals, academia, and companies that attract foreign patients attended the forum to discuss ways to revitalise the medical tourism industry and relax regulations.
Kim Jin-guk, chairman of the Korea Medical Tourism Association, said that the number of medical tourism visitors to Korea is expected to exceed 600,000 by 2023, with 78.1 per cent of foreign patients coming from Seoul. He emphasised the importance of taking measures to increase global competitiveness. Kim Bong-soo, CEO of Open Healthcare, presented strategies for Korean healthcare to expand overseas by collaborating with overseas medical institutions, targeting diseases, and promoting telemedicine.
Seungmin Baek, CEO of XPRIVE, introduced the role of foreign influencers living in Korea and their contribution to medical tourism, while Yoo Yoo-yoon Lee, PhD, Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, explained global medical tourism trends, Korea's initiatives, and the medical-tourism-wellness model.
During the panel discussion, Professor Won-Seok Seo of Kyung Hee University emphasised the need to revitalise medical tourism, while Professor Byung-Cheol Lee of Kyungpook National University, Dr Jae-Sang Ban of Vanobagi Plastic Surgery, and Professor Heo Jun of Dongdeok Women's University offered various opinions on the development of the Korean medical tourism industry.
The Korea Tourism Institute has been striving to secure expertise in the field of tourism and raise Korea's status as a sustainable tourism powerhouse through tourism research and public-industry-academia linkages for more than 50 years.
**Wellness and Family-Friendly, Gangwon Youth ESG Event Successfully Concluded***.
The Gangwon Youth ESG & Family Friendly Event, hosted by the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Economic Promotion Agency, was held from 29 to 30 August at Romizian Garden, a wellness tourism destination in Jeongseon. The event was organised by the Gangwon Youth Centre of the Economic Promotion Agency to educate local families about local resources, ESG and family-friendly values.
Families who participated in the event experienced various wellness programmes offered by the garden to strengthen family ties and experience the value of sustainable living. Participants stayed overnight in the Mountain House at Roman Garden, located 550 metres up Mount Gariwang, and participated in various activities such as adventure forest ropes course, walking therapy, and fun fun climbing.
They also shared their own food at the Mong Kok Self-BBQ in the forest, and roasted marshmallows and sweet potatoes around the campfire. One family with three generations enjoyed the campfire with their grandparents singing fun songs.
‘It was a very refreshing experience to be able to immerse ourselves and have fun as a family,’ participants said, adding that they hope the programme will be held more often in the future. ‘We hope that this event will serve as an opportunity for the Gangwon region to move towards a future where local resources and family-friendly values are valued,’ said Byeongju Ahn, Deputy General Manager of Romance Garden.
**Wellness and beauty meet at the ‘2024 Beauty & Healthcare Show’ at the Korea Advanced Cyber University Continuing Education Centre**.
The Korea Open Cyber University Continuing Education Institute (President Lee Dae-myung) participated in the ‘2024 Beauty & Healthcare Show’ held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon from 29 to 31 August and introduced its online course for a comprehensive cosmetology licence. Established in 2007, the Institute of Continuing Education aims for open education based on humanism and provides excellent faculty and systematic education programmes based on the experience of cyber universities.
At the exhibition, the institute highlighted the advantages of the online course for a comprehensive cosmetology licence. The course certifies professional knowledge in beauty fields such as hair design, skin care, nail art, and make-up, and is an essential qualification for those who want to pursue beauty-related careers. The course takes nine months to complete, with seven months of study and two months to apply for the degree.
The Korea Open Cyber University Continuing Education Institute emphasises professionalism through education that reflects overseas beauty trends and participation in domestic beauty competitions, and provides free textbooks and 1:1 personalised mentoring to enhance learning. In addition, professional planners provide personalised consulting to make the course easy to understand for non-majors, and scholarship discounts are offered at affiliated beauty institutes for practical training.
‘The course is 100% online and can be taken overseas,’ said a representative from the Continuing Education Institute. ’It is the shortest course for those who want to open a beauty-related shop or work in the beauty industry.’ In addition, special scholarships are available to ease the burden of tuition fees, and Koreans and foreigners living abroad can take the course through real-name verification.
The 2024 Beauty & Healthcare Show is an exhibition that encompasses the beauty and healthcare industries in Incheon, providing wellness-related content and experiences, and showcasing the latest technologies and products in these fields.
**Glowent Group raises KRW 12 billion in Series B funding for convergence of wellness and beauty
On 23 August, Glowent Group announced that it has raised KRW 12 billion in Series B funding from four investors. The company is expanding Barneys New York Beauty globally, introducing an innovative brand that combines beauty and wellness.
Since raising KRW 20 billion from Arden Partners in 2021, Barneys New York Beauty has launched globally in the US, Japan, and Korea in the beauty, wellness, and water categories. In 2022, the brand held a launch party in Los Angeles and began full-scale sales at major department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue. In Japan, the brand launched in five Barneys New York department stores, including Ginza and Roppongi, and opened its first flagship store near Dosan Park in Seoul. Since then, the brand has garnered significant attention by entering premium retail networks such as Korean Air's in-flight duty-free shops, Starbucks, and 10 Corso Como.
The Series B investment will accelerate the Group's global expansion. The company will expand its department store and duty-free market in Korea and aggressively expand in Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In particular, the company is expanding its department store distribution network in earnest, starting with Lotte Department Store Jamsil, and is using a unique sales strategy that provides beauty and wellness at the same time.
‘We will continue to expand our global distribution network as planned, and together with our team members and investors, we will realise our vision and growth potential,’ said Ji-won Song, CEO of Gloent Group. ‘We will continue to make strategic and challenging choices to build a sustainable global brand amidst the uncertainty and rapid changes in the market,’ he added.
The Group's beauty brands are strengthening their position as premium brands by defining beauty in a broader sense, encompassing wellness and inner health, rather than just skin care. This investment is an important step in the continued realisation of this strategy.
**Wellness and Traditional Medicine, Yeongdeok-gun and Uzbekistan sign ‘K-Traditional Medicine Silk Road Project’ agreement***.
Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, has joined hands with Uzbekistan to expand the wellness industry globally. Youngdeok-gun visited Uzbekistan from 28 August to 1 September to sign an international cooperation agreement on the ‘K-Traditional Medicine Silk Road Project’.
The signing ceremony was held on 29 August at the Bukhara Provincial Government Office in Uzbekistan, where Youngdeok discussed cooperation plans for the development of the traditional medicine and wellness industry with Gyeongsangbuk-do, Andong City, Daegu Hankuk University, the government of Bukhara Province, and Bukhara State Medical University. The agreement is an important opportunity for Yeongdeok-gun to further strengthen its existing international co-operation system with India and Mongolia, and increase its competitiveness in the global traditional medicine market.
In particular, the agreement focuses on strengthening research, education, and technology exchanges in traditional medicine between the two countries, with a regional focus, while promoting specific cooperation projects such as the establishment of the K-Korean Medicine Edupharm. ‘Through this agreement, we will establish an expanded coordination system both domestically and internationally, and serve as a catalyst for regional revitalisation to counter the disappearance of rural areas,’ said Kim Kwang-yeol, head of Yeongdeok-gun.
The ‘K-Traditional Medicine Silk Road Project’ is a project designed by Yeongdeok-gun to strengthen cultural and economic ties based on the public-private partnership system, and plans to establish its position in the global market through the convergence of wellness and traditional medicine.
**Wellness and tourism highlight BÃ Ria-Vung Tau's charms***.
Vietnam's newest tourist destination, Bà Ria-Vung Tau Province, is attracting attention for its convergence of wellness and tourism. On 30 August, Lotte Hotel in Busan held a ‘Barya-Vung Tau Tourism Presentation’ to introduce the charms of the region. More than 60 people attended the briefing, including Mr Nguyen Van Tho, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vietnam's Bária and Vung Tau province, Mr Lee Chang-geun, Vietnam Tourism Ambassador to Korea, and Mr Pham Noc Hai, Chairman of the Bária and Vung Tau Tourism Association.
Highlighting the province's outstanding natural conditions and coastline, Nguyen Van Tho said that 25,000 South Koreans were among the foreign tourists who visited the region last year. He said he expects the number of Korean tourists to increase. Mr Pham Noc Hai explained that BÃ Ria-Vung Tau is growing as an international tourism destination covering recreation, leisure, wellness and golf.
Lee Yoo-jin, director-general of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism's Representative Office in Korea, said Varia-Vung Tau is a region that fits well with Korean travel trends, adding that it has many unique attractions that are not often found in internet searches. The region is located on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, 100 kilometres south of Ho Chi Minh City.
Attractions include the Con Dao Islands, Vietnam's sixth Ramsar site, the beautiful seaside town of Ho Chi Minh City, and the region's largest city, Vung Tau. BÃ Ria-Vung Tau is an area that combines wellness and tourism, making it an attractive destination for Korean travellers.