Taean County Focuses on Building Marine Healing Center... Opening Scheduled for September Next Year

Utilizing Taean's Marine Healing Resources to Offer Various Healing and Wellness Programs
Establishing a Top-Level Center...Seeking Optimal Operation Plans Through Advisory Committee

On the 18th, Jo Yonghyun (center in the photo), director of the Marine Healing Center, held a regular briefing at the briefing room of Taean County Office, Chungnam. /Taean=Photo by Choi Byungmin

Taean County in South Chungcheong Province is making every effort to complete the final stages of the construction of the "Taean Marine Healing Center," a new future growth engine for the region.

The county announced on the 18th that it will spare no effort to maximize customer satisfaction by building the Taean Marine Healing Center, which began construction in March 2022, as a top-tier "masterpiece" and by establishing successful operational strategies.

The Marine Healing Center is a comprehensive facility that operates various marine healing programs utilizing Taean's natural marine resources such as peat, salt, and saline groundwater. A total of 34 billion won is being invested to build the center in the area of Dalsanpo Sports Park in Nam-myeon. The building will have one basement floor and two above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 8,478 square meters.

The construction is scheduled to be completed in June next year, followed by a two-month trial operation, with the official opening as the "only national marine healing center on the west coast" planned for September.

Among the five pilot regions nationwide (Wando in Jeonnam, Taean in Chungnam, Uljin in Gyeongbuk, Goseong in Gyeongnam, and Seogwipo in Jeju), Taean will be the second to open after the Wando Marine Healing Center (opened in November 2023).

The first floor will feature a bade pool and meditation pool using saline groundwater to promote metabolism, a peat room, and a wave stone therapy room. The second floor will include an endermology room for wound recovery and anti-aging, a stone therapy room for rest and healing, and a halo (salt) therapy room utilizing Taean's sun-dried salt.

In addition, leveraging Taean's beautiful West Sea scenery, the center will be the only one among the five pilot centers nationwide to have a "rooftop outdoor water healing facility." Nearby, there will also be outdoor healing infrastructure for forest trekking, meditation, and yoga, an outdoor foot bath, and the "Taean Marine Healing Base Center," all expected to enhance visitor satisfaction.

Aerial view of Chungnam Taean Marine Healing Center. /Taean-gun

The county is also putting great effort into finding the optimal operational strategy for the "Taean Marine Healing Center."

In preparation for the opening, an "Advisory Committee for Determining the Efficient Operation Method of the Taean Marine Healing Center" has been formed to discuss topics such as the adequacy of healing program composition, manpower management, facility usage fees and discount rates, and the operation of auxiliary facilities.

The advisory committee is composed of 28 members, including professors in the wellness field, accountants, labor attorneys, other external experts, and related public officials. The county plans to operate the committee until early March next year, finalize the operational plan, complete consultations with the county council, establish related ordinances, and proceed with staff recruitment.

Furthermore, regarding manpower management, the county intends to hire as many local talents as possible and ensure that they can work in a stable environment, with a commitment to creating a Marine Healing Center that works together with the local community.

Director Cho Yonghyun said, "Having started construction in March 2022, we will devote all of Taean County's capabilities and passion in the remaining time until opening so that the Taean Marine Healing Center, which we have prepared with utmost focus, can receive great love from the public."

He added, "We will do our best to build the Taean Marine Healing Center as a masterpiece and operate it successfully so that the center becomes a catalyst for visiting Taean and a space that offers relaxation to our residents."