Busan Ranks First in the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism’s Wellness & Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Assessment
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Busan Ranks First in the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism’s Wellness & Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Assessment
□ On March 13, Busan Metropolitan City confirmed that it had secured 500 million won in national funding after claiming first place in the medical tourism category of the Wellness & Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Assessment, conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism.
○ The Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism evaluated the 2024 performances and 2025 plans of six regions selected for the 2023-2025 Wellness & Medical Tourism Convergence Cluster Project, which aims to build world-class destinations for healing and healthcare.
○ The assessment was based on key indicators such as the development and operation of wellness and medical tourism content and the number of inbound foreign patients across two categories: medical tourism and wellness tourism.
* Wellness tourism refers to travel focused on well-being, fitness, and happiness to promote health recovery, enhancement, and overall quality of life.
□ Busan earned high scores for its quality medical services, efforts to establish wellness tourism infrastructure and create integrated wellness and medical tourism content, as well as success in drawing international patients—all of which contributed to creating a robust wellness and medical tourism convergence cluster.
○ Notable achievements in 2024 include the designation of ten wellness tourism sites; the attraction of approximately 30,000 patients from overseas; professional training in wellness and medical tourism; the opening of the Busan Medical Tourism Business Center, a first-of-its-kind among municipalities; strong voluntary participation in the Cluster Cooperation Committee; and the development of wellness tourism programs tailored for foreign patients.
○ In particular, ten wellness and medical tourism programs, including ‘Healing Day in Busan’ and ‘One-Day Medical & Wellness Healing Tour,’ received positive feedback from both domestic and international medical tourists.
□ Looking ahead to 2025, we will increase the number of wellness tourism destinations, host the Wellness & Medical Tourism Festa, develop new packages utilizing modular programs, consolidate overseas medical tourism networks, and implement global marketing strategies.
Top 10 Wellness Tourism Destinations in Busan
※ The ten locations are categorized into four themes: Nature (3), Yoga & Meditation (3), Beauty & Spa (2), and Stay (2).
Nature (Forest/Ocean)
1. Ahopsan Forest (Gijang-gun)
Overview: Located in Midong Village, Cheolma-myeon, Gijang-gun, known for its lush bamboo and cypress trees
Program: Ecological and cultural experience
Note: Re-designated
2. Busan Children's Grand Park Healing Forest (Busanjin-gu)
Overview: Urban cypress forest offering nature exploration at Seongjigok Reservoir
Program: Forest learning
Note: Re-designated
3. Beomeosa Temple (Geumjeong-gu)
Overview: One of the three major temples in the Yeongnam area—along with Haeinsa Temple and Tongdosa Temple—nestled on Geumjeongsan Mountain
Program: Zen meditation, tea etiquette class, temple stay (experience, relaxation, day trip)
Note: Newly designated
Yoga & Meditation
4. Gwangalli SUP ZONE (Suyeong-gu)
Overview: Yoga session against the backdrop of the sunrise and sunset at Gwangalli Beach
Program: Stand-up paddleboard yoga
Note: Re-designated
5. Hongbeopsa Temple (Geumjeong-gu)
Overview: Home to Korea’s largest seated Buddha statue
Program: Singing bowl meditation, temple stay
Note: Re-designated
6. Norfit (Dadaepo Beach, Saha-gu)
Overview: Nordic walking along the beach
Program: Nordic walking and yoga, sunset walking
Note: Newly designated
Beauty & Spa
7. Club D Oasis (Haeundae-gu)
Overview: Busan’s first National Health Hot Spring, featuring a water park and spa
Program: Full-day, half-day, and family passes
Note: Re-designated
8. SMB Wellness (Gijang-gun)
Overview: Spa healing therapy center in Hakri Village, Ilgwang-myeon
Program: Skincare spa, massage, aromatherapy, yoga, singing bowl meditation
Note: Newly designated
Stay
9. Naewonjeongsa Temple (Seo-gu)
Overview: Temple stay facilities and the International Meditation Healing Center, perched on the foothills of Gudeoksan Mountain
Program: Temple stay
Note: Re-designated
10. Park Hyatt Busan (Haeundae-gu)
Overview: Luxurious staycation spot with views of Haeundae Beach, Gwangandaegyo Bridge, and Suyeongman Bay Yachting Center
Program: Stay (swimming pool, gym, spa)
Note: Newly designated
