Gyeongbuk Province Launches First Marine Healing Industry Development Advisory Committee

Composition of 15 Marine Healing and Healing Experts from Academia, Research Institutes, Related Organizations, and Associations

Aerial view of Gyeongbuk Uljin Marine Healing Center.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] Gyeongbuk Province held the first meeting of the newly formed ‘Gyeongbuk Marine Healing Industry Promotion Advisory Committee’ on the 27th at the East Office Building’s main conference room.

The newly established advisory committee is composed of experts with extensive knowledge and experience in the marine healing industry from academia, research institutions, and related organizations according to the ‘Gyeongbuk Marine Healing Resource Management and Utilization Ordinance.’

The committee will play a key advisory role in policies for fostering the marine healing industry, including the construction project of the Marine Healing Center being built in Uljin and plans for its activation after completion.

The term of these advisory committee members is three years (from September 27, 2022, to September 26, 2025) with the possibility of renewal.

The meeting proceeded with the awarding of appointment certificates to the advisory members, a policy briefing on activating the marine healing industry, a presentation on the progress of the Uljin Marine Healing Center construction project, followed by a policy discussion and debate among the advisory members.

‘Gyeongbuk Marine Healing Industry Development Advisory Committee’.

During this advisory committee meeting, there were in-depth consultations and exchanges of opinions among members regarding ▲discovering year-round marine healing content ▲establishing marine healing service infrastructure ▲building a marine healing industry ecosystem.

The province plans to actively reflect the committee members’ opinions on the construction of Uljin’s Marine Healing Center, the only place in the country where seawater bathing, hot spring bathing, and forest bathing are possible, and its future operational plans to promote the activation of the local marine healing industry.

Marine healing refers to activities that utilize sea resources such as sea breeze, sound of waves, seawater, tidal flats, white sand beaches, and marine life to improve constitution and enhance immunity, thereby promoting the health of the public.

In Western countries such as Germany and France, the marine healing industry has been active for a long time due to high interest in quality of life, and after COVID-19, it is gaining attention as a new industry that will lead healthy living for the public and growth engines for coastal areas.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been building regional marine healing pilot centers in Wando, Taean, Goseong, and Uljin, Gyeongbuk since 2019 to foster the marine healing industry.

Additionally, legal and institutional foundations have been established, including the enactment of the ‘Act on the Management and Utilization of Marine Healing Resources’ in 2020 and the confirmation and announcement of the ‘Basic Plan for the Management and Utilization of Marine Healing Resources’ in December 2021.

Kim Nam-il, Head of the East Sea Region Headquarters of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “The marine healing industry is establishing itself as a new industry that aligns with recent trends emphasizing quality of life, bringing new vitality to the regional economy and contributing to improving the quality of life in coastal and fishing villages. We will actively explore plans to create a marine healing cluster in Gyeongbuk linked with Ulleungdo, a natural ecological island, once Ulleung Airport opens in 2026.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.