A Wellness Hangout Popular Among the Younger Generations in Korea: Mirinae Healbeing Club

The garden with the foot bath is fresh and green. In the “Healbeing” club, where lush tropical trees thrive under the sunlight, one almost feels as if they are breathing in the color green. Mirinae Healbeing Club is a healing space for the eyes, body, and heart, which has gained great popularity through social media.

The “Healbeing” part of the name is a portmanteau of healing and well-being. Indeed, Mirinae Healbeing Club is more of a wellness center than a typical Korean-style sauna. The most significant difference from a traditional sauna is its layout, which is based on the principles of ohaeng (five elements) and ogam (five senses). The Five Elements Therapy Room, designed with input from Professor Lee Sung-jae of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Korea University Anam Hospital, uses materials and light that correspond to the five major organs in the human body to eliminate toxins and boost the immune system. The Five Senses Therapy Room, which uses light, sound, and fragrance to bring the body and mind to a state of relaxation, is home to the Sound Therapy Room, which uses three crystal singing bowls under a massive hand to deliver profound sounds and vibrations to visitors’ bodies.

Foot Bath at the Arboretum-like Garden Pusil

The most beloved facility in the Mirinae Healbeing Club is the Garden Pusil on the second floor. “Pusil” is a Korean word referring to a village lush with grass, and the garden indeed feels like a healing space resembling an arboretum. In addition to nearly 100 species of trees and plants, the garden is also home to a variety of foot baths, from a pine foot bath colored green like pine needles to an aroma foot bath colored purple and a bubble foot bath. A foot bath experience in the garden is like dipping one’s feet into a brook after hiking through forest trails.

The Outdoor Experience Zone, which connects to Garden Pusil, boasts even greater diversity. It features large parasols shading additional foot baths made with mugwort, lonicera flowers, safflowers, and other natural herbs. In front of these foot baths, a cool stream flows over a floor lined with fist-sized pebbles, ideal for Kneipp therapy. This therapy prescribes 10 minutes of a hot foot bath followed by 10 minutes of walking in cool water with pebbles to stimulate circulation.

Food Therapies That Satisfy the Eyes and the Tongue

The last space for therapy in the Mirinae Healbeing Center is the restaurant. The restaurant is a buffet-style eatery featuring natural ingredients and seasonings grown in Yangpyeong and Inje. The food is as tasty as it looks. The buffet includes a bibimbap bar with seasonally rotating ingredients such as sea urchin, seaweed, mushrooms, and shoots, in addition to nearly 25 types of dishes that strike a nutritious balance, such as stir-fried soy meat and eggplant, salt and butter-grilled spotted mackerel, grilled smoked duck, and makgeolli bread.

Mirinae Healbeing Center also includes the Café Doran Doran, which has a pretty view; Gudeuljam, a warm nap space; a 250-yard driving range; the Bio Ceramic Ball Space, which contains ceramic balls made with five minerals said to be beneficial for the human body; and the Forest Healing Trail, which has five routes.

If you want a more laid-back experience, opt for overnight stays. Mirinae Healbeing Center offers single-story accommodations inspired by hanok buildings and multiple-story buildings that are ideal for stargazing. Starting in May 2024, Mirinae Healbeing Center plans to offer caravan spots for camping enthusiasts. All facilities are operated by the center, ensuring their safety and cleanliness.

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Find Tranquility at Lee Jae Hyo Gallery

Scores of stones dangle on lines, dancing in the wind. The bittersweet scent of time permeates through fallen leaves. This space is dedicated to artist Lee Jae Hyo, who creates works of art using mundane materials like wood, iron, and stone. It has a calming and peaceful ambiance no matter the time of year. Another feature of Lee’s works is the lack of titles. The space is divided into five exhibition halls, a café, and a studio. Don’t miss the view of the countryside from the rooftop.

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A Space of Healing Organized into Different Themes: Swija Park

This is the first forest cultural complex and park in Korea, created by Yangpyeong-gun. It supports accommodations, healing programs, and educational programs. The observation deck with its flower-lined trails and the landscape of the Healing House, which is reminiscent of an exotic vacation resort, are particularly beautiful. The Healing Center offers eight healing programs that cater to participants of all ages and genders, such as forest meditations, kinesitherapy, and trekking. Reservations are a must. Other amenities include a climbing wall, forest playground, and ankle-deep pools.

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