Daegu, Busan, Incheon, Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Chungbuk will be developed as wellness tourism destinations.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 5th that it has selected these six regions as "Wellness Tourism Cluster" project sites. The initiative aims to develop high-value wellness tourism industries by leveraging local healing and spa resources. The ministry plans to provide 450 million won in funding to each region.
Daegu will be developed as an "urban medi-wellness tourism city" by combining its robust medical infrastructure with wellness resources. The city plans to develop more than 60 signature tourism products over three years. Busan will leverage its "coastal resort city" characteristics to link medical tourism resources with wellness across different zones: hot springs and recuperation tourism in the eastern district, eco-tourism in the western district, and beauty and spa tourism in the urban center. The city aims to develop and promote wellness tourism products differentiated from the Seoul metropolitan area.
Incheon will segment its tourism targets across four zones: the urban area for medical and beauty services, Songdo for MICE-linked offerings, Yeongjong for airport and port connections, and Ganghwa for nature and healing experiences. The city targets attracting 1.46 million domestic and international medical and wellness tourists by 2028. Gangwon will develop regional resources under the theme of "Gangwon-style Sleep Wellness Tourism": Wonju for digital healthcare, Yangyang for dynamic activities, Pyeongchang for forest-based programs, and Jeongseon for nature-focused relaxation. The province will particularly focus on attracting long-stay tourists.
Jeonbuk plans to enhance its regional wellness theme by connecting cultural resources such as traditional hanok villages and independent bookstores with healing cuisine featuring fermented foods and local ingredients. Chungbuk will develop specialized resources centered on four key cities and themes: Cheongju for spa and beauty, Chungju for meditation, Jecheon for traditional Korean medicine, and Jeungpyeong for forests and nature. The province also aims to build brand recognition as the only inland region offering "Blue Wellness," combining waterfront and forest experiences.
The wellness industry has grown rapidly as lifestyles shifted toward greater health consciousness and quality of life following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness market is projected to reach $6.8 trillion in 2025 and grow at an annual average rate of 7.6% through 2029. Wellness tourism in particular is an emerging growth industry accelerating as Korea enters the era of one million inbound medical tourists, with demand expanding to include healing, recovery, and preventive tourism following medical treatment.
The ministry conducted an open call for applications from metropolitan governments from December 29 last year through January 23 this year. Evaluation committees reviewed submitted business plans through document screening and presentation assessments. The evaluation criteria included the validity and specificity of business plans, wellness-medical convergence commercialization strategies, and regional tourism integration approaches.
A ministry official said, "As the so-called 'Healing Travel' trend spreads, with tourists seeking both physical and emotional healing, travelers want new types of trips combining treatment, recovery, and experiences." The official added, "We will develop tourism products that combine wellness tourism resources held by local governments—such as oceans, forests, and food—with medical infrastructure, and establish an industrial ecosystem foundation including support for wellness tourism startups through public-private-academic partnerships."
