As healthcare travel becomes a global trend after the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeonbuk is emerging as one of the top destinations for healing in Korea.
With the advantage of pristine mountains and forests, aging old houses, traditional culture preserved through many generations and healthy fermented cuisine, Jeonbuk brings a journey to complete recovery of body - mind - spirit.
From 2023 to 2025, the Jeonbuk Provincial Cultural Tourism Fund has selected 30 typical health care destinations to build typical products and promote them to tourists.
The journey of healing in nature
The core of Jeonbuk health tourism is nature. This area has many places to recover health through activities in contact with forests, mountains, seas and endemic ecosystems.
In particular, the Naejangsan Mountain Ecological Exploration Center in Jeong-eup, the Byeonsanbando Coastal Ecological Exploration Center in Buan, Gochang National Forest and Geurimga Healing Arts in Jinan are highlights, operating meditation programs, artistic therapy, forest bathing and many relaxation activities in the fresh nature.
Other locations such as Baekdudaegan Unbong Ecosystem Experience Center in Namwon, Hyangro-san Natural Resort Forest in Muju or Suoi Thanh Cong Nghiet in Imsil offer experiences combining local cultural and ecological stories. Here, visitors can both explore natural scenery and immerse themselves in the slow, still life.
In addition, Jeonbuk also develops a natural healing with participation model through farms and gardens such as the Wind Forest in Iksan, Dalbit Sori Farm, Woorideul Jeongwon healing farm, Gimje Flower Farm, Neulbom Garden in Buan or Muju Flower Garden.
Tourists directly participate in gardening, flower planting, agricultural treatment - activities that are both relaxing and help connect with the rhythm of the land and sky.
touching original traditional values
If nature helps the body rest, Jeonbuk's traditions and culture bring peace of mind. Ancient hanok houses such as Awon or Hanok Oseong Village (Wanju), Han-ga-ram Experience Center (Iksan) are places where visitors can easily find quietness through meditation, concerts or cultural experiences.
Handmade experiences such as Bonggang-yo pottery, Hanji Daeseung village or the experience farm in Iksan all help awaken the senses with traditional materials: soil, water, paper, wood... Thereby, participants find the feeling of touching the original values - something rare in modern urban life.
Recovering from within with fermented foods and traditional medicine
Jeonbuk is famous for its fermented cuisine, which is considered a "natural supplement" of Koreans.
Seullend and Sunchang Fermentation themed park are two typical destinations for this experience theme, where visitors can enjoy fermented products and learn about traditional medicine preparation processes.
In addition, Sangha Farm (Gochang), Eogil-lo Farm (Jinan) or Chimhyang Farm (Gimje) provide foot balances, forest baths or healing meals using local ingredients.
Meanwhile, those interested in Eastern medicine can find many special options: Jinan Environmental Disease Prevention and Management Center with red clay - red pine wood therapy.
Tourists can also diverse recovery experiences at Taekwondowon (Muju) with Taekwondo training and meditation programs; Gochang Health Care City with fragrance therapy; Jinan ginseng Red Spa and Gui-an-dong Health Experience Village (Wanju) combined with traditional bathing and sauna.
Towards Korea's leading healing tourism center
Jeonbuk aims to take the lead in the "Healthcare - Medical Tourism Cluster Project" implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea.
Mr. Lee Kyoung-yoon, Executive Director of the Jeonbuk Province Cultural Tourism Fund, affirmed: "Jeonbuk's strength is the coexistence of traditional resources and natural resources, which can be healed every day," and emphasized that "We will create a good cycle for healthcare tourism through developing sustainable content and cooperating with local communities".
In the coming time, Jeonbuk will focus on developing meditation and medicine programs for international tourists, focusing on 30 health care tourism attractions. This place is becoming a symbol of "real healing", when nature and tradition are not only a landscape - but also help each person find deep balance within.
Jeonbuk (also known as Jeollabuk‐do) is a province in the southwest of South Korea, in the Honam region. The capital of the province is Jeonju city, a prominent destination in both culture and tourism.
Departing from Seoul, visitors can take the KTX high-speed train to Jeonbuk - usually takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes if traveling from Incheon International Airport, or about 2 hours from the center of Seoul. Jeonju has a public bus network with cheap fares, taxis or rented cars for flexible travel.
