Premium Wellness Redefined: Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center

Wonkwang University Jangheung Integrative Medical Hospital, which houses the Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center

Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center is a specialized mental health and wellness facility located on the second floor of Wonkwang University Jangheung Integrative Medical Hospital. Established to support individuals experiencing emotional challenges such as depression, anxiety, and stress in the wake of COVID-19, the center offers a variety of experiential healing programs. These include integrative treatments rooted in traditional Korean medicine, forest therapy, and aromatherapy.

A Healing Space Beyond Treatment

Hospital lobby on the first floor

A banner in the lobby of Wonkwang University Jangheung Integrative Medical Hospital reads, “A place of rest and healing—tell us your story.” While “healing” is familiar in a hospital setting, “rest” may sound unexpected. However, once you climb the stairs to the second floor, any doubts naturally fade.

Mind-Body Healing Room

At the Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center, there is none of the heaviness or rigidity typical of medical facilities. Instead, a gentle and relaxing atmosphere draws you in. The multipurpose Mind-Body Healing Room feels like a charming café, and the hot-and-cold therapy room, hair spa room, moxibustion room, medicinal foot bath room, and comprehensive treatment room all feature clean, uncluttered interiors. It’s a place for healing rather than just medical treatment.

The Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center’s premium feel is underscored by its state-of-the-art equipment. Devices such as the whole-body cryotherapy chamber, electric recliner head spa chair, and hinoki thermal bed deliver both medical benefits and comfort.

Among these, cryotherapy stands out for its unfamiliar name and appearance that differs from typical medical devices. Often called the “three-minute miracle,” cryotherapy exposes the body to an extremely low temperature of –130°C for three minutes to reduce inflammation, relieve fatigue, and boost immunity. After the cold treatment, tense muscles can be soothed on the hinoki thermal bed filled with Himalayan pink salt.

Medicinal foot bath room

The medicinal foot bath room, separated by partitions to create a relaxing atmosphere, offers herbal foot bath formulas tailored to symptoms such as fatigue, hypertension and diabetes, liver detoxification, bronchial conditions, skin health, and menopause. Relaxing massages using natural aroma oils are provided in the comprehensive treatment room.

As a hospital-based facility, the Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center also offers health screenings that are uncommon at ordinary wellness centers. Tests include stress index, body composition, arterial stiffness, reactive oxygen species, pulse wave, anxiety, and depression. Based on the results, participants receive personalized lifestyle guidance. Pharmacopuncture, administered by a professor of Korean medicine, is another specialized service unique to this center.

Tea meditation (Credit: Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center)

The wellness programs at the Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center include not only integrative medicine treatments but also healing and therapeutic programs such as herbal oil making, tea meditation, resin art, and singing bowl yoga. Among these, herbal oil making is the most popular. Participants blend plant-based oils with herbs and medicinal ingredients like rosemary, rubbed basil, angelica, and ginseng. After eight weeks, the finished herbal cooking oil can be used for salads or other dishes.

Forest therapy (Credit: Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center)

Tea meditation led by Jang Nae-soon, director of Jangheung Dayewon, and forest therapy sessions with a forest therapist at Jeongnamjin Cypress Forest Woodland are among the center’s most popular offerings. Participants in overnight programs (one night or longer) stay at eco-lodges within the woodland. Every wellness program at the Jeollanam-do Heart Health Healing Center concludes with a Korean medicine session where participants make Gyeongokhwan herbal pills, known for restoring energy.

Nearby Attractions

1. Jeongnamjin Water Science Museum

Aquarium at Jeongnamjin Water Science Museum (Credit: VISITKOREA)

The Jeongnamjin Water Science Museum is a four-story exhibition hall designed around water-themed experiences, reflecting Jangheung’s reputation for its dam and water festival. Each floor features facilities such as the Hydrothermal Energy Exhibition Hall, an aquarium, a 4D theater, and a Water Classroom. The fourth floor has a café where visitors can relax with pasta. Regular programs—like fish puzzles, coloring, and eco-bag making—run on both weekdays and weekends.

2. Jeongnamjin Observatory

Jeongnamjin Observatory

Standing 10 stories (45.9 m) tall, Jeongnamjin Observatory is a landmark attraction in the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula. From here, sweeping views take in the South Sea, Deukryang Bay, Sorokdo Island, Geogeum Bridge, and countless islands—making it a famed sunrise spot. The upper levels house an observation deck and café, while the lower floors offer themed spaces such as a book café, a literary cinema, and a retro travel hall, giving visitors a wide variety of experiences.

* This column was last updated in July 2025, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check for updates before visiting.