Korea Tourism Organization Announces 13 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Destinations' Adding Healing to Scenery

Customized Consulting Support for Promotion and Service Improvement

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 25th that they have newly selected 13 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Destinations' that combine Korea's beautiful landscapes with unique experiences.

Awon Traditional House, Wanju, Jeonbuk.
[Photo by Awon Traditional House website]

The newly selected 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Destinations' include ▲Silland in Sunchang, Jeonbuk ▲Korean Traditional Culture Experience Center in Suseong, Daegu ▲Geumpung Brewery in Ganghwa, Incheon ▲Awon Old House in Wanju, Jeonbuk ▲JW Marriott Jeju in Seogwipo, Jeju ▲Kyungwonjae in Yeonsu, Incheon ▲Club Dioasis in Haeundae, Busan ▲Sayuwon in Gunwi, Daegu ▲Mirinae Healing Club in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi ▲Rainbow Healing Center in Yeongdong, Chungbuk ▲Wando Marine Healing Center in Wando, Jeonnam ▲Oak Valley Resort in Wonju, Gangwon ▲Sobaeksan Ecological Exploration Center in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have renamed the existing 'Recommended Wellness Tourism Destinations' as 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Destinations' this year, revamped the brand image, and plan to further enhance their reputation as healing spots by supporting domestic and international promotion and providing customized consulting for service quality improvement.

Since its inception in 2017, the 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Destinations' project now totals 77 locations with this latest selection. The Korea Tourism Organization supports these destinations with customized consulting for service quality improvement, domestic and international promotion, product development, and enhancement of hospitality readiness. In June, a wellness tourism theme week will be held in conjunction with the Korea Beauty Festival.

The organization has added 'Food' and 'Stay' categories this year to the previously selected excellent wellness tourism destinations, which were categorized into four themes: Beauty & Spa, Healing & Meditation, Nature & Forest Healing, and Korean Medicine.

Daegu Sayuwon.
Photo by Daegu Sayuwon

Silland operates differentiated cooking programs for both domestic and international visitors using Sunchang gochujang, a local specialty. The Daegu Traditional Culture Experience Center offers experiences in making Korean food based on Donguibogam, allowing visitors to enjoy the taste and elegance of Korean cuisine as well as Korea's beautiful culture. Geumpung Brewery is a place where visitors can directly experience and taste traditional Korean liquor brewing processes that have been passed down for about 100 years, using pesticide-free rice from Ganghwa Island as the main ingredient.

Awon Old House is a place where visitors can feel the breath of a 250-year-old traditional house alongside a modern gallery space. JW Marriott Jeju not only offers the refreshing sea views of Seogwipo, Jeju but also fully captures the local tourism flavor through experiences such as traditional Jeju jang (fermented sauce) making and canola flower sowing. Kyungwonjae is a place that showcases the unique atmosphere of a hanok (traditional Korean house) right in the heart of Songdo, Incheon.

Club Dioasis in Haeundae is Busan's first public health hot spring. Visitors can enjoy both a water park and spa, and experience healing programs such as yoga and meditation on the terrace.

Sayuwon in Daegu is a wellness tourism destination for healing and meditation. It is a space aspiring to the world of the National Treasure No. 83, the Ban-gasayusang (Pensive Bodhisattva) statue, where the works of masters in architecture, landscaping, and lighting harmonize. Mirinae Healing Club offers a complete healing experience through an in-room jjimjilbang (Korean sauna) and forest meditation. Rainbow Healing Center operates various wellness programs themed around light, water, wind, and stone using illite minerals.

Wando Marine Healing Center exterior. [Photo by Wando-gun]

Wando Marine Healing Center provides healing experiences utilizing Korea's nature and tourism resources. The space is built to maximize Wando's natural environment and offers various wellness therapy programs using Wando's marine tourism resources, such as seawater experiences and seaweed mud treatments.

Oak Valley Resort in Wonju, located within an 11 million square meter oak forest, allows visitors to enjoy sports and relaxation in nature and has newly introduced a walking posture correction program. Sobaeksan Ecological Exploration Center, which operates various ecological tourism programs including trekking in Sobaeksan National Park, was also selected as an excellent wellness tourism destination.

Lee Hak-ju, Director of the International Tourism Division at the Korea Tourism Organization, said, "The selected destinations this time are special places for the health and happiness of modern people. We plan to actively promote and support the excellent wellness tourism destinations to provide the best rest and healing experiences to domestic and international tourists."