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| August 9th, 2024 Korea Wellness News |
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we explore the exciting developments in Korea Wellness as of August 9th, 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.
Daegu Hankuk University signs business agreement for herbal wellness cultural experience
Daegu University of Korean Medicine (President Byun Chang-hoon) announced that it will promote the herbal wellness cultural experience in earnest through an agreement with the Herbal Medical Experience Town (Centre Director Jang Hyun-ah), which is entrusted by Daegu Metropolitan City, and the Daegu Metropolitan City Veterans Association. The signing ceremony was held at the seminar room of Daegu City's Oriental Medicine Experience Town, and was attended by Jung Hyun-ah, director of the Oriental Medicine Experience Town, and Byung-wook Jang, president of the Daegu Veterans Association.
The two organisations promised to exchange information for mutual development, activate internal and external publicity, and support the use of the herbal medical experience town for members and families of the Veterans Association. The Oriental Medicine Experience Town is a complex cultural space created to revitalise the city of Yakryeong in Daegu and promote the excellence of oriental medicine, and is equipped with an ICT oriental medicine experience centre, an oriental medicine and beauty experience centre, and a foot bath experience centre.
In collaboration with Daegu University Medical Center, it also operates various programmes such as herbal medicine experience programmes for children, art therapy classes for modern people, and art book clubs. For more information, visit the official website and the integrated reservation system of Daegu Metropolitan City.
Wellness healing at Baekdu Daegan, a sky trail trek in the Gangwon Alps
Gangwon Land is offering a variety of wellness experiences and leisure activities in the Gangwon Alps for the peak summer season. Since its establishment in 1998, Gangwon Land has been striving to provide a variety of experiences to its guests in order to revitalise and survive the abandoned mining area. This summer season, the resort is reinforcing its role as a complex resort and offering various contents that utilise nature and local culture as tourist resources.
At the High One Tower, guests can enjoy a 40-minute round-trip ride on the Undango Gondola Cable Car and feel like they are flying in the sky. The Alpine Coaster also offers a thrilling 2.2-kilometre ride that includes dynamic sections such as the 'Whirlwind Course'. The Haiyuan Under the Clouds Animal Farm offers a unique experience of interacting with more than 50 animals.
High Yuan Waterworld is introducing new activities for the summer season, including paddleboats, water cannons and VR snorkelling, while the outdoor wave pool Poseidon Wave offers artificial waves of up to 3 metres. In addition, wellness programmes such as forest healing and starry night walks are offered, with 'Tree Doctor Kim Sabu' and 'Starry Night Walks' providing healing for visitors.
Trekking courses such as the Haneul-gil Tour offer visitors the opportunity to capture the beautiful scenery of Baekdu-daegan, while the Jeongtae Youngsam Story Bus with a cultural commentator provides an interesting guide to the history and culture of the area. There is also a 'Kids Camping in Forest' programme for elementary school children during the summer season.
Gangwon Land's various wellness programmes and activities offer visitors a unique experience through the harmony of nature and culture.
The benefits of bamboo leaves and African mango in natural medicine and wellness
Natural medicines are gaining traction in the wellness market. Recent studies have shown that bamboo leaf extract is effective for constipation, while African mango seed extract is being studied for its ability to reduce wrinkles and moisturise the skin. Unlike antibody- or gene-based biopharmaceuticals, natural products have the advantage of being more accessible to the average consumer in areas that are close to their daily lives.
The global natural medicine market is expected to grow from about KRW 40 trillion in 2019 to about KRW 53 trillion by 2026. Especially in Europe, the demand for natural medicine is growing in various forms, from cold remedies to liquid teas. The domestic market has also been active since the 1990s and is expanding into various fields, including general medicines, health functional foods, and cosmetics.
Jeonnam Bio Promotion Institute recently applied for a patent to use a mixture of bamboo leaves and tangja fruit to improve intestinal function. The composition is highly safe and can be used as a therapeutic agent or functional food to support bowel movements.
In addition, Promvio has filed a patent for an ingredient derived from African mango seeds that demonstrates anti-wrinkle and moisturising effects on the skin. This ingredient has been shown to increase the expression of collagen genes in animal models and inhibit oxidative stress, which contributes to skin hydration. African mango has also recently been used as a weight loss aid.
Natural medicines are naturally derived ingredients that are safe and have a wide range of potential applications in wellness and healthcare. They are expected to play an important role in health and beauty in the future.
Wellness, Zero Sugar, and the Calorie Trap of Sweeteners
Zero sugar products have become popular as part of the wellness trend, but zero sugar doesn't always mean zero calories. Some alternative sweeteners contain calories, and you need to be careful. For example, sugar alcohols such as maltitol, xylitol, and sorbitol have 2.4 calories per gram, while aspartame has 4 calories. Although they are lower in calories when compared to sugar, they still contain calories, which can be problematic for dieters.
On the other hand, most high intensity sweeteners, such as erythritol, stevia extract, allulose, sucralose, acesulfame K, and saccharin, are known to be calorie-free. These sweeteners are used in zero-calorie foods and do not affect the glycaemic index, but in some products, the ingredients or exact content of the sweeteners are not specified, making it difficult for consumers to get accurate information.
The investigation found that some of the zero sugar products sold by Lotte Well Food, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, and Coca-Cola Korea contain calories. For example, Lotte Well Food's Zero Milk Monaca contains 26 grams of sugar alcohol, which can add up to about 62.4 kcal. On the other hand, products such as Screwbar Zero Calorie use allulose, so the actual calorie count is zero.
As you can see, when choosing a zero-sugar product, it's important to look closely at the type and amount of sweeteners, and consider the calorie information and the impact on blood sugar. When choosing a zero sugar product, it's important for consumers to read the labels and nutritional information carefully.
Sinsongdo Beach Festival with Wellness Becomes a New Summer Attraction
The 5th New Songdo Beach Festival, hosted by Yeonsu-gu, will be held at Songdo Moonlight Park for six days from the 10th of this month. In response to the wellness trend, the festival will feature a variety of programmes for families, friends, and lovers to enjoy a summer vacation in the heart of the city. The festival will recreate the memories of the old Songdo Amusement Park, while featuring new activities and attractions with a modern twist.
During the festival, Songdo Moonlight Park will host a total area of 16,500 square metres. There are various zones including a water play zone, artificial white sand beach, camping zone, swimming pools and waterslides for children and toddlers, a beach theatre, a Ferris wheel, and duck boats. In addition, there will be a CrossFit gym, food trucks, food zones, busking performances, DJ performances, and fireworks.
In particular, the festival will introduce new wellness-related programmes such as Pilates one-day classes, water gun fights, and bag races to attract young people and other age groups. Various performances and programmes will be held every day according to the theme, and on the 15th, the last day of the festival, the Incheon National University cheer team will perform, along with celebratory performances by Park Sang-min and Silveranta, and a fireworks show.
The district will cooperate with relevant organisations to ensure safety during the festival, and will take measures such as suspending the festival depending on weather conditions. The festival aims to strengthen cooperation with the local community through sponsorship from various companies and organisations, and to establish itself as Incheon's representative summer festival. "We hope that the festival will provide visitors with a unique cultural experience and serve as an opportunity to make Yeonsu-gu an attractive city," said Lee Jae-ho, mayor of Yeonsu-gu.
**Wellness and Sound Bath: A Deep Meditation Experience in a Zen Village***.
Sun Village, a leading wellness resort in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, will host a 'KSA Soundbath Yoga Meditation' class in collaboration with the Korean Soundbath Association (KSA) on 14 April. The class is designed to help participants experience deep relaxation and stress relief through the vibrations and sounds of various musical instruments.
More than just meditation, Soundbath is a modern form of energy therapy that gives participants the opportunity to enter a deep state of consciousness and discover their own potential. In this class, you will experience both a surge of energising energy and deep relaxation through the giant sound gong bath, which is a great way to aid healing and self-transformation.
The class will be led by KSA coaches Liu Hua Lin and Lee Ho Sung, who will teach the theory and how to play the various instruments. Participants will experience energy release and replenishment through visual and auditory stimulation, and will be able to go deeper into their inner consciousness to feel renewed and revitalised.
The class will be held at G.X Room in Sun Village on the 14th from 4pm for 80 minutes, and participants can book via the in-room tablet or the Welcome Centre.
**New Winds of Wellness Tourism: Changing Tourism Market in Jeongseon
Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, is promoting various wellness-related improvement projects to expand the local tourism market. This month, Jeongseon County opened a new pet camping site, changed facilities at major tourist attractions, stabilised prices, and overhauled restaurant hygiene to attract tourists.
Recently, Jeongseon County opened a new pet campsite at the Jeongseon Ecological Experience Learning Centre with the theme of 'pet wellness'. The campsite is 12,260 square metres and is designed as a campsite for camping with pets, and is equipped with various facilities such as walking trails, animal showers, photo zones, and drinking fountains. Through this, Jeongseon-gun is providing differentiated services aimed at travellers with pets.
Other major projects to expand tourism include improving the environment of Mindung Mountain and overhauling the old facilities at Najeon Station Square. Mindung Mountain is an 1119-metre-high trekking destination that attracts more than 300,000 visitors a year. Jeongseon-gun will provide a more pleasant environment for visitors by removing trees and maintaining hiking trails. In addition, the old sculptures at Najeon Station Square will be overhauled to improve the aesthetics and make it more convenient for tourists.
The county has created a golden cosmos flower garden around Byeongbangsan Military Park, which is currently in full bloom and has become a popular photo spot for tourists.
In addition, the county has been overhauling local tourism services. It has launched a price stability campaign at Jeongseon Arirang Market, conducted hygiene inspections of 58 restaurants around the market, and safety inspections of designated rural tourism businesses to provide a safe and comfortable travelling environment for tourists.
"We will do our best to ensure that tourists visiting Jeongseon for healing and relaxation during the summer months have a safe and enjoyable experience," said an official from Jeongseon-gun.
**National Gochang Healing Forest, a new standard for wellness tourism, selected as a Jeonbuk-type healing tourism destination**.
The National Gochang Healing Forest has been selected as a '2024 Jeonbuk-type Healing Tourism Destination' by the Jeonbuk Culture and Tourism Foundation. This marks Gochang Healing Forest as an important institution leading wellness tourism in the Jeonbuk region.
The Jeonbuk Healing Tourism Destination is designated by the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province for institutions that provide content specialising in wellness tourism, and includes five themes: nature and healing, healing and meditation, herbal medicine, traditional and living culture, and healing food. The National Gochang Healing Forest was designated under the nature and healing category, and is managed by the Korea Forest Service's Korea Forest Welfare Promotion Agency.
The Gochang Healing Forest will provide forest healing programmes for vulnerable people and operate forest travel programmes using forest resources in the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province. It also plans to improve the convenience of tourists by improving tourism acceptance, and contribute to income generation for the local community in Gochang-gun through shared growth projects with the local community.
"The National Gochang Healing Forest is the first healing forest in the Jeollabuk-do region, built on the dense cypress forests of Munsusan," said Jeong Jong-geun, director of the Gochang Healing Forest. "With this designation as a Jeollabuk-type healing tourism destination, we will leap forward as a leading institution for wellness healing tourism and forest healing in the Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province."