Wando-gun Accelerates Efforts to Establish Marine Bioindustry Ecosystem

Attracting Seaweed-Specialized Marine Bio Research Institutes and Startups

Aerial view of Wando-gun Marine Bio Research Complex (Photo by Wando-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 4th that it will actively embark on ecosystem creation projects, including attracting marine bio research institutes and bio companies.

Since last year, the county has been promoting the construction of a marine bio research complex with an investment of 11 billion KRW. The research complex will house 10 corporate research institutes and 30 startups.

Wando is the birthplace of seaweed, producing more than 700,000 tons out of the total 1.8 million tons of seaweed produced in Korea, with tidal flats and seabeds composed of macbanseok (a type of basalt), providing an optimal habitat for seaweed.

Unlike terrestrial resources, seaweed is rich in functional polysaccharides and bioactive substances such as fucoidan and polyphenols, making it highly valuable as a bioindustry material. However, it is still limited to processing industries, so high value-added utilization of seaweed as a bio material is urgently needed.

Accordingly, the county plans to invest 25 billion KRW in establishing production facilities for seaweed bioactive materials and 15 billion KRW in building a seaweed efficacy evaluation center to establish infrastructure for the marine bioindustry.

Additionally, the county is participating in the international joint technology development project "EUREKA" in collaboration with the French Roscoff Marine Biological Station, aiming to foster marine bio companies through industrial material development and technology transfer based on research on seaweed functional substances.

Shin Woo-cheol, Wando County Governor, said, "The marine bioindustry utilizes abundant marine resources to develop various products, promoting seafood consumption, creating jobs, and contributing to regional economic development through tourism resources. We will accelerate the fostering of a marine bioindustry specialized in seaweed by creating a marine bio ecosystem."