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| September 3rd, 2024 Korea Wellness News |
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we explore the exciting developments in Korea Wellness as of September 3rd, 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.
** LAMEDIATECH Drives Wellness Innovation with PURAXEL at Beauty & Healthcare Show 2024
Ltd. showcased its latest laser device, the PURAXEL series, at the 2024 Beauty & Healthcare Show. The exhibition was held at the Songdo Convensia in Incheon from 29-31 August, further strengthening the company's position in the wellness and beauty sector through innovations in laser technology.
The company has been focusing on miniaturising aesthetic and beauty laser technology, maximising ease of use and affordability to make it more accessible to the masses. The PURAXEL-MX, in particular, offers five functions including fractional laser and 10 handpieces to meet the needs of various customers. The all-in-one nature of this device has gained great acceptance in the domestic and international aesthetic market.
In addition, the PURAXEL-ME is a personal aesthetic medical device that has been gaining popularity within the self-care market, offering pores and skin tone improvement. In addition, fractional lasers, CellProshot and ExsTer, which are composed of various modules, were exhibited to showcase the company's technology.
The participation of Lammeditech has successfully led to its expansion into the aesthetic and home beauty market, breaking the boundaries of the wellness and beauty industry. The exhibition was a great success, attracting a lot of attention from domestic and overseas buyers and industry stakeholders.
The theme of the 2024 Beauty & Healthcare Show was ‘Beautiful Harmony between the Outer and Inner Worlds’ and showcased innovative products and technologies through the convergence of the beauty and healthcare industries.
CJ CheilJedang Launches Healthy Gift Sets Reflecting Wellness Trends** ** CJ CheilJedang Launches Healthy Gift Sets Reflecting Wellness Trends
CJ CheilJedang has launched 250 gift sets for Chuseok 2024, including healthy gift sets that reflect the ‘wellness’ trend. The new gift sets reflect the trend of consumers emphasising practicality and cost-effectiveness amid the economic recession, and the company has significantly expanded its range of affordable products in the KRW 10,000 to KRW 20,000 range.
In particular, health gift sets that reflect the ‘wellness’ trend are attracting attention. The representative product is the ‘Hanpuri Black Ginseng Cheonbosi Stick and Tablet’. This product boasts premium quality as it contains nine times steamed and dried black ginseng concentrate and New Zealand SAT-grade deer antler with high content of absorption rate. Another wellness gift is ‘Red Ginseng Arginine’, a product that combines six-year-old red ginseng and arginine to help health.
CJ CheilJedang has also introduced a new brand of complex gift sets called ‘The Gift’ and changed the packaging to a design reminiscent of artisan crafts. In addition, CJ CheilJedang has prepared various options of sets, including the popular ‘Spam Gift Set’. The sets are available on various e-commerce platforms such as CJ The Market, Naver, SSG.com, and Coupang, and some of the products are also being offered for a chance to win a stay at Shilla Hotel.
This Chuseok gift set is expected to be a practical and thoughtful choice for health and wellness-conscious consumers.
** LOTTE Holdings Launches New Healthcare and Biopharmaceutical Venture Capital to Strengthen Wellness Sector
LOTTE Holdings Co., Ltd. announced the establishment of a new Healthcare and Biopharmaceutical Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) to focus on investments in the healthcare and biopharmaceutical sectors. The new CVC aims to facilitate investments in innovative technologies and promising start-ups, and is part of the company's strategy to position itself as a leader in the health and wellness industry.
LOTTE Group's philosophy is to provide trusted products and services to its customers and enrich the lives of people. In 2022, LOTTE Group established LOTTE BIOLOGICS, a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) for pharmaceutical products, to enter the healthcare and biopharmaceutical sector.
The establishment of the CVC is an important step towards expanding investments in the healthcare and biopharmaceutical sectors, as LOTTE Holdings plans to accelerate access to innovative technologies from around the world and facilitate investments in start-ups. The CVC will make its first round of investments in companies of all sizes, with a focus on leading innovation in the health and wellness sector.
‘We are committed to becoming a leader in the health and wellness industry through challenges and investments in the healthcare sector,’ said Kenichi Tamatsuka, CEO of LOTTE Holdings, adding that the establishment of the CVC is an important first step in sparking innovation and driving future growth.
New Look Taps Into Wellness Trend with Zero Sugar Rice Wine** **New Look Takes Market by Storm with Zero Sugar Rice Wine
Low-sugar, low-calorie products that reflect the wellness trend have been gaining popularity in the mainstream market. In line with this trend, New Look, an agricultural company, is attracting great attention by launching zero sugar and low sugar rice wine. The product was launched in June in collaboration with convenience store GS25, and it was so popular that 12,000 bottles were sold within a month of its launch.
New Look's CEO Kim Ji In graduated from Seoul National University's Department of Composition and worked at Cheil Worldwide and a food startup before founding New Look in March 2023. The company name is a new interpretation of ‘koji’, which plays an important role in the fermentation process of alcohol. Kim is interested in the traditional liquor market and focuses on developing makgeolli that considers the health and well-being of young people.
New Look's makgeolli has zero grams of sugar in the fermentation process and uses allulose instead of sugar to reduce calories to half of the original product. The product has 118 calories per 500ml and is made at 4 degrees ABV, providing a consumption experience similar to that of a highball or beer.
‘We wanted to break the stereotype of the traditional liquor market by reflecting the demand of the MZ generation for healthy pleasures,’ said Kim, adding that New Look Makgeolli will be a healthy alternative to highballs and beer. The company is also planning to expand globally and has already received a collaboration proposal in the US.
Newlook's innovative approach has paid off, with the company securing seed investment and a GS25 listing within two months of its founding, and was selected for TIPS, a technology start-up support programme, to fund R&D and international marketing. Newlook plans to lead the growth of the traditional spirits market and deliver the value of health and wellness to the world.
** How to take care of your health with wellness for 35-45 year olds**.
The age group of 35 to 45 years old is when energy is needed the most, and health management is especially important. Here's how to keep your body and mind healthy through wellness management during this time.
**1. Health checks and prevention
From the age of 35 onwards, regular health check-ups are necessary. You should add gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and hepatitis screening to your routine, and seek immediate medical attention for any symptoms such as headaches or indigestion. Women in their late 30s should also have a gynaecological examination to check for uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
**2. Exercise and diet
Even with a busy social life, exercise is essential. It reduces the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases, boosts self-esteem, and improves sleep quality. Intermittent fasting and protein intake stimulate the release of growth hormone, which helps to maintain muscle and prevent aging. It"s also important to take advantage of the various services available at your health centre to get regular check-ups.
**3. Women"s health care
After the age of 40, women should be screened for female diseases such as uterine fibroids and breast cancer. Breast cancer has a high incidence in women after the age of 40, so regular mammograms are necessary. Cervical cancer screening is recommended for women over the age of 20.
**4. Nutrients and beneficial bacteria
Vitamin A helps to improve memory and prevent ageing, and you should make sure you get enough of the antioxidant nutrients vitamins C, E and selenium. For gut health, take probiotics and prebiotics to maintain good bacteria.
**5. Manage your stress
This is a time of year when stress and insomnia are common. It is important to find ways to calm your mind that you personally enjoy, such as meditation, hobbies, or listening to music.
The age of 35-45 is a time of overlapping roles and responsibilities, and we want you to lead a vibrant and healthy life through wellness and health care.
** Jongno-gu's dementia prevention programme with wellness***.
Jongno-gu, Seoul, runs various wellness programmes to prevent dementia and raise awareness in response to an aging society. Jongno-gu is hosting the ‘Dementia Prevention Class for Seniors’, a programme for residents aged 60 and over who are in the normal group through cognitive function tests, until 31 October. The programme, which will be held six times in total, includes a subjective memory decline test, as well as Qigong gymnastics, meditation yoga, and dementia prevention lectures.
To reduce the burden on dementia patients and their families and improve dementia awareness in the community, Jongno-gu operates the Jongno-gu Dementia Awareness Centre, which provides appropriate programs for those with normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. In addition, the city has designated 21 ‘dementia overcoming leadership groups’ in the city and established an organic cooperation system to conduct various activities such as the ‘Find Happy Memories Campaign’ and training volunteers specialising in dementia.
On September 10, Jongno-gu will hold ‘I Love You,’ a commemorative event for the 2024 World Dementia Day, at its wellness centre, featuring traditional dance performances for the elderly, special lectures for families with dementia, and exhibitions. Through these activities, Jongno-gu is striving to create a community where people with dementia can live worry-free.
** OTTOO's investment and collaboration in medicinal food development with wellness
Ottogi is investing in and collaborating with the medifood sector, a promising food industry of the future. Ottogi recently announced an equity investment and business collaboration with medifood startup Itmapple. The collaboration, which coincides with Ottogi's 55th anniversary, is aimed at innovating the food industry and improving wellness.
Founded in 2017, Itmapple specialises in medifood, providing diets tailored to various health conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. The company creates customised meals based on health data and offers healthy food products such as ‘Delicious Low Salt’, ‘Delicious Low Sugar’, and ‘Delicious Low’. Recently, Ottogi established the Tasty Low Salt Kitchen to expand its B2B market, and through its corporate welfare programme, ItWellCare, it provides employees with customized low-sugar and low-salt products and 1:1 nutrition counselling services.
Through the partnership with Itmple, Ottogi will share its knowledge and experience in the medifood sector and lay the foundation for healthcare through food. The collaboration focuses on promoting growth and innovation in the medifood industry, with the goal of further collaboration and market growth in the medifood sector.
An Ottogi representative said, ‘Medifood is emerging as a key industry within the food industry, and we will share our knowledge and know-how in this field through collaboration with Itmaple to drive market growth.’
CJ Welcare Launches 45 Health Functional Food Chuseok Gift Sets with Wellness** **CJ Welcare Launches 45 Health Functional Food Gift Sets with Wellness
CJ WellCare is introducing 45 gift sets of various health functional food products for the upcoming Chuseok festival. As modern consumers are becoming more health-conscious, CJ WellCare is proposing healthy gifts for consumers this holiday through customised wellness products.
The gift sets include Hanpuri Black Ginseng Jicheonbo, a premium product that contains a high content of black ginseng concentrate and deer antler. In addition to the existing pouch form, the product is available in stick and concentrate form for greater portability and convenience. CJ WellCare has enhanced the absorption capacity of black ginseng by using the highest-grade SAT deer antler from New Zealand.
In addition, Hanpuri Red Ginseng Arginine was also newly launched. It contains six-year-old red ginseng, premium ingredients such as black garlic and black maca from the South Sea, and adds L-arginine, orthinine, and taurine to maximise the absorption of arginine.
‘Kamut Grain Combo Enzyme’ is a customised enzyme tailored to the dietary habits of Koreans with a high carbohydrate intake, and was included in this gift set due to the positive response after its launch last year. Other staple products include Hanroot Red Ginseng Daebo, Hanroot Black Ginseng Liquid ZERO, Hanroot Black Ginseng Deer Antler Stick, and Natural Healthy Pomegranate Collagen Jelly. The products range in price from 20,000 won to 200,000 won, providing consumers with a wide range of choices.
Customers who purchase the Chuseok gift set will have the opportunity to win prizes such as health check-up products and airline ticket gift certificates, along with a buy-one-get-one-free offer at CJ Wellcare's official brand store on Naver. ‘This Chuseok, we hope that people will express their gratitude to their loved ones through various products that give the gift of health,’ said a CJ WellCare representative.
CJ WellCare supports customers' healthy lives through various wellness solutions, including premium lactic acid bacteria brand “BioCore” and inner beauty brand “Inner Bee”.
** Chuseok gifts for wellness and health, a new trend in the retail industry**.
For the upcoming Chuseok, the retail industry is introducing a variety of products that reflect the trend of ‘wellness’ and health-centred gifts. In particular, the wellness craze, which considers both physical and mental health, is having a major impact on the gift market.
Newkin recently launched Mind 360, a product that offers comprehensive care for the mind and body. The product consists of three health functional foods, including Fibroin Extract (BF-7), which helps improve memory, Mugwort Extract, which supports sleep health, and L-Theanine, which is effective in relieving stress, and two body care products, including Relaxing Body Cream and Energising Hand and Body Wash. The package comes with a sleeping eye patch as a free gift, and there will also be a proof of purchase event.
In addition, Le Labo's ‘Coriander 39’ fragrance is a soothing forest bathing-inspired scent, while Puma's ‘Magmax Nitro’ is a new Nitrofoam for comfortable outdoor running. Mardi Gras' Athleisure Collection is functional activewear suitable for both sports and everyday wear, featuring lightweight yarns and superior comfort.
‘Gifts that focus on health and wellness are popular this year,’ said an industry insider, ’and we encourage shoppers to consider wellness gifts for their loved ones that nurture both body and mind.’
** Wellness and Fragrance, Chuseok One-Day Class at Mayfield Hotel Seoul and Objet by Kundal
Mayfield Hotel Seoul in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, is hosting a special one-day class in collaboration with Objet by Kundal for the Chuseok holiday. The event will take place on 14 September and will give guests the opportunity to experience the harmony of wellness and fragrance.
Mayfield Hotel Seoul is a hotel that promotes a natural lifestyle and has a history of more than 60 years that began in a peach orchard. The one-day class will be held at the hotel's outdoor garden, the Angel's Ring. Surrounded by conical pine trees, the Angel's Ring offers a unique scent experience in a natural setting.
The class begins with an introduction to the history of fragrance and the principles of perfumery, followed by the creation of a personalised fragrance inspired by the landscape of the Mayfield Hotel. Participants will have the unique experience of creating a one-of-a-kind fragrance, and a sachet programme is also available for children.
This one-day class is complimentary for guests of Mayfield Hotel. Objet by Kundal will also be hosting a pop-up shop at the Royal Mile, Lobby Lounge, Mayfield Hotel after the class, and will be offering various benefits such as room packages and social media recognition events.
Applications for participation will be open from 9-12 September, and only guests on the 14th will receive a text message. For more information, please visit Mayfield Hotel Seoul's official website or call for more details.
During the Chuseok holiday, Mayfield Hotel Seoul is also offering a limited time ‘Hanbok Package’ for mothers and daughters to dress up in hanbok together and enjoy the traditional atmosphere. This package is a popular choice for a getaway.
** Wellness and psychological stability, a wellness experience programme for young people in Mokpo City
The Mokpo Youth and Work Integration Centre is running a ‘Wellness Experience Programme’ as part of the 2024 Regional Youth Project. The programme aims to improve the psychological stability and physical health of young people, and is currently recruiting participants until 20 September.
The programme will be held once a month from June to November for a total of six sessions. Three wellness programmes have already been successfully held from June to August, and included a variety of activities for psychological stability and physical health. The programmes included aromatherapy and Pilates, which provided participants with psychological stability and physical vitality.
In addition, the programme held at the Wando Marine Healing Centre provided an opportunity to experience marine healing programmes such as meditation pools, mud therapy and sea mist. Through this programme, the youth were able to recharge their minds and bodies in a marine environment and experience the effects of marine healing firsthand.
‘I am very happy that the young people were able to escape from their daily routine and recharge their minds and bodies through the marine healing programme,’ said Ko Gwang-gwang, director of the Mokpo Youth and Work Integration Centre. ’I hope that many young people will participate in the remaining three programmes.’
The Mokpo Youth and Work Integration Centre supports local youth through various activities such as employment and entrepreneurship training, capacity building programs, and cultural programs. The wellness experience programme will be an important opportunity to support the health and stability of young people as part of this support.
** Wellness and industrial tourism: Gyeonggi-do legislator Lee Han-han leads the way in revitalising tourism in Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member Lee Han-han has taken the lead in enacting the ‘Ordinance on Fostering and Supporting Industrial Tourism in Gyeonggi Province’ to boost tourism in the province. Gyeonggi-do is the first of 17 regional governments to enact this ordinance, laying the foundation for the systematic development and support of industrial tourism.
The ordinance includes the development of comprehensive measures for industrial tourism, administrative and financial support measures, and programme research and development. Through this, 135 industrial tourism destinations in Gyeonggi-do will be systematically identified and supported, and abundant tourism resources will be provided to residents and tourists.
Industrial tourism is more than just visiting industrial sites, but includes various forms of tourism activities such as factory tours and traditional handicraft experiences. Gyeonggi-do has several representative industrial tourism destinations, including Anseong Farmland, Pocheon Hub Island, and Goyang Hyundai Motors Studio, while Paju has the Letterpress Museum and the Jangdankong Resignation Hall.
Lee also emphasised the importance of wellness tourism. Wellness means well-being, health, and happiness, and includes a variety of activities that promote physical and mental health. Gyeonggi Province is regarded as an optimal place for wellness tourism with its natural environment and industrial base, and efforts are ongoing to provide a healthy and leisurely life.
With the enactment of the ordinance, Gyeonggi-do plans to further promote industrial tourism and strengthen the development of the province's tourism industry by discovering and supporting tourism resources.
** Expanding global exports of Korean medicine thanks to the wellness craze
The wellness craze has given a green light to the global export of Korean medicine. With the recent international wellness craze, interest in Korean medicine has surged, accelerating its expansion into the global market.
Currently, western medicine is dominant in Korea, and Chinese medicine is relatively unable to expand its influence. However, as the global wellness trend emphasises natural ingredients, the naturalistic approach of Chinese medicine is gaining traction. As a result, the Korean medicine industry is actively pursuing international standardisation and entering the global market.
The Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine recently submitted two international standardisation proposals to the International General Assembly and succeeded in getting them to the committee stage. These international standardisation efforts are an important step in strengthening the global presence of TCM. In addition, the TCM community is striving to scientificise clinical practice, promote medical tourism, and seek win-win cooperation with western medicine.
Its achievements in the global market are also notable. Daegu College of Oriental Medicine has cooperated with Monos University of Pharmacy in Mongolia to export its curriculum and attracted investment of $2 million to build a smart farm. In Europe, the university is also exchanging with the University of Montpellier in France to provide education in Korean medicine, and plans to expand the European market for Korean medicine-related foods.
There are also opinions that it is time to turn Korean medicine into health functional foods. It is argued that functional foods using natural ingredients can increase access to overseas markets. This is considered a realistic way to expand the base of Korean medicine beyond competition with western medicine.
The wellness craze is expected to have a positive impact on the global expansion of TCM and further strengthen the international position of TCM.
** Wellness services and privacy... security vulnerabilities are a concern**.
With the spread of wellness culture, the risk of personal health data being leaked is growing. The recent increase in startups offering wellness services has made them a prime target for hackers due to their relatively low level of security.
According to the industry, hacking attacks on hospitals are frequent globally, and large amounts of patient information have been leaked from medical institutions in Daejeon, South Korea, and the NHS in the UK. In this situation, small wellness companies have lower security barriers than hospitals, making them more vulnerable to hackers.
Wellness products, such as wearable devices, collect data about an individual's physical metrics and lifestyle routines, and if this data is compromised, the privacy implications can be severe, security firms warn. Wellness service providers are often under-invested in and under-maintained in security, which is why they are often targeted by hackers.
It is also pointed out that even if wellness services are provided for welfare purposes, they should be more responsible for protecting personal information. Currently, there is a lack of discussion in Korea to clearly define the scope of personal information collected by companies, and there are growing calls for service providers to securely manage customer information and face strong penalties for leaks.
To solve these problems, companies involved in wellness services should prioritise security enhancement, and legal regulations and standards for protecting personal information should be strengthened.
** Meeting to share innovation and company-wide proposals between wellness and Kangwon Land**.
Kangwon Land shared the progress of 65 tasks proposed by employees through the ‘Company-wide Proposal Sharing Meeting’ in 2024. The meeting was held in the form of a town hall meeting, where 24 of the 65 tasks were completed, and the results and cases were presented and future plans were discussed.
In particular, the wellness-related task, ‘Expanding the Hi One Premium Store,’ was highlighted. In response to customer surveys that pointed to a lack of shopping space, the store was remodelled to expand its area and diversify its products to increase customer satisfaction. In addition, a vehicle number registration system via text message was introduced to resolve inconveniences in the parking lot for hotel guests, which was praised for its positive impact on the first impression of the resort.
Ideas to strengthen global competitiveness include the opening of the Hiwon Global Academy Seoul Centre and the introduction of an automatic translation function on the official Hiwon website. These changes are expected to contribute to establishing the brand's position as an international resort.
Future initiatives include the introduction of a mobile driver's licence authentication system, the creation of an infinity pool and wellness centre at the hotel, and the introduction of limousine carts on the golf course. Kangwon Land plans to enhance the effectiveness of task implementation through quarterly inspections and actively reflect innovative ideas from employees to strengthen its competitiveness in the global market.
‘It is important for the company's long-term growth and to reflect the vivid opinions of the field,’ said Choi Chul-kyu. ’These efforts will solidify Gangwon Land as a global resort beyond Korea.’
** Korean-Japanese University Cooperation Workshop on Wellness and Local Problem Solving Concludes***.
The ‘2024 Global Wellness Tourism and Regional Problem Solving Cooperation Workshop’ hosted by Masan University's LINC3.0 Project was successfully held from 27 to 31 August at Kinki University in Japan. Twelve universities from Korea and Japan participated in the workshop to discuss innovative approaches to wellness tourism and regional problem solving.
Five universities from Korea - Masan University, Dongmyung University, Busan National University of Health, Busan Women's University, and Chung-Ang University - and seven universities from Japan - Kinki University, Ritsumeikan University, Tenri University, Kagoshima International University, Hannan University, Nihon University of Economics, and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies - participated in the workshop.
The workshop featured several sessions on the theme of global wellness tourism, where participants discussed wellness tourism strategies that reflect local characteristics and solutions for sustainable tourism development. In particular, the importance of international cooperation to address the issues of population decline and local disappearance was emphasised, and concrete proposals for tourism models that utilise local resources were presented.
Universities from both countries shared university policies to address demographic decline and rural depopulation, and explored ways to co-operate to promote education and people-to-people exchanges. In addition, an MOU was signed for joint agenda setting and continued cooperation, laying the foundation for future collaboration.
‘This workshop was an important opportunity for universities in Korea and Japan to collaborate on regional issues,’ said Lee Sang-won, Director of LINC3.0 at Masan University. ’It was significant in presenting innovative approaches in the field of wellness tourism and strengthening cooperation between Korean and Japanese universities.’
The workshop reminded us of the importance of international cooperation to solve practical problems beyond academic exchanges, and participants are expected to contribute to solving regional problems in both countries through continued cooperation.
** Bridging Wellness and AI, Innovations in Personalised Mind Training***.
Mental healthcare in the digital age is evolving to combine wellness and AI. Recently, various apps and technologies that support individual mental health have gained attention. Kim So-yoon, from Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do, uses a mobile app to learn breathing exercises and expert counselling during her commute to work. Since the pandemic, burnout has been on the rise, and many people are looking for digital mindcare solutions.
According to a recent study, the burnout rate among women in 2030 has increased to 75.2 per cent, and 64.1 per cent of all workers have experienced mental burnout. In response to this situation, companies are expanding their psychological counselling and wellness programmes. POSCO's Pohang Steel Plant provides 24-hour non-face-to-face psychological counselling services, while Bithumb offers a tailored in-house wellness programme.
Mind training using digital technology is also gaining traction. Apps such as Mabo and Trost offer meditation and psychological counselling services, while AI-based solutions support personalised mental health management. Doctorison offers an app for mental health self-assessment, while Thumbtack analyses user data to provide personalised reports.
The combination of wellness and technology is opening up new possibilities for individuals to manage their mental wellbeing in real time. This shift is making mindfulness and mental health care more accessible, and contributing to more effective stress relief and mental stability.