Tourists attend a meditation program at Godowon Healing Center in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. (Korea Tourism Organization)
By Min Yea-Ji and Kim Hwaya
Though Hallyu and traditional Korean culture are mostly what attracts foreign visitors to Korea, the country also offers unique programs in traditional medicine and meditation to heal the body and mind.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on April 24 that it designated the cities of Chungju and Jecheon in Chungcheongbuk-do Province as "wellness tourism" areas. Statistics show that the number of foreign visitors in Korea who specifically sought this type of tourism increased 16.6 percent last year from 2017.
The two cities both have public facilities offering nature-based services. Visitors to Godowon Healing Center and Gaemyeongsan Natural Forest in Chungju can relax and meditate thanks to the surrounding nature. Other programs include a walking meditation and "Stopping Briefly," in which visitors can stroll around a park, stop when hearing a jing (traditional Korean gong), and focus on the sounds of birds, wind and falling leaves.
In Jecheon, programs on traditional Korean medicine include those at the Jecheon Nature Healing Center and Resom Forest. A visitor can get a diagnosis of his or her physical predisposition, eat medicinal herbal food and dip into a soothing medicine spa.
Tourists attend a meditation program at Godowon Healing Center in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. (Godowon Healing Center)
