Gangwon-do Specializes in 'K-Wellness and Medical Tourism'... Attracting Foreign Tourists

Securing National Funding... Establishing Stay-Type Wellness and Medical Tourism Infrastructure
Joint Promotion in Wonju, Donghae, Yeongwol, Pyeongchang, and Jeongseon

Gangwon Province announced on the 2nd that it has been selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's 'Wellness and Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster' project and secured 1.5 billion KRW in national funding to be invested over three years.

Caravan for People with Disabilities [Gangwon-do Tourism Foundation]

Ranked first among local governments by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for two consecutive years, Gangwon Province plans to expand the wellness tourism area (Donghae, Yeongwol, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon) by adding Wonju, which has established medical infrastructure, as a new cluster area to attract foreign tourists.

The province is planning customized wellness experiences linked with lifestyle big data (lifelog) centered around representative wellness tourism sites such as Wonju (Korean medicine), Donghae (healing), Yeongwol (natural recovery), Pyeongchang (forest), and Jeongseon (meditation).

In the medical tourism sector, in line with the global popularity of K-dramas, recovery programs (such as Sasang constitution and pulse diagnosis) linked with Sangji University Korean Medicine Hospital and lifestyle habits including depression and stress will be connected using the government-designated health and medical big data platform called 'Lifelog.'

In particular, to revitalize the project, three areas?▲content development and nurturing ▲promotion and marketing to attract overseas tourists ▲infrastructure establishment?will actively pursue 10 projects.

The 'Wellness and Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster' project is growing as a global tourism trend, with over 50% of overseas travelers prioritizing physical and mental health factors such as 'healing,' 'rest,' and 'safety' when traveling abroad.

Baek Chang-seok, Director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Gangwon Province, said, "Through the Wellness and Medical Tourism Cluster project, we will develop Gangwon’s specialized tourism content, lead the international tourism market, and establish a foundation for attracting foreign tourists in connection with the launch of 'Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province' and the 'Visit Korea Year.'"