Experts from Korea, France, China and Japan gather in Busan to advance marine healing industry

As "marine healing" — the therapeutic use of seawater, salt, seaweed and other ocean resources — gains recognition as an emerging wellness industry, experts from South Korea, France, Japan and China are convening in Busan to discuss ways to commercialize it.

The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) announced it will co-host the 2026 Marine Healing International Symposium with Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU), the Korea Therapy Association (KTA) and the French Thalassotherapy Association (FTA) over two days starting Thursday at KIOST's main campus in Busan.

The symposium will focus on identifying the therapeutic properties of marine healing resources, verifying their safety, developing standardization frameworks and exploring pathways to commercialization and international cooperation.

More than 100 specialists from domestic and overseas universities and research institutions will take part, including KIOST senior research fellow Kim Chung-gon, FTA President Marie Perez Sisca, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, the TAPIC Thalasso Center in Okinawa, Japan, and Henan Medical University in China.

The first day will cover the current state of South Korea's marine healing industry, followed by presentations on the operational experiences of marine healing centers in France and Japan, domestic case studies and China's wellness policy landscape.

The second day will examine the impact of marine healing programs on public health. KIOST has been conducting research to verify the efficacy and safety of marine healing resources and develop standardization protocols, and plans to share its findings at the symposium.

The gathering will also lay the groundwork for broader international research collaboration. Ahead of the symposium, KIOST will sign an MOU Thursday morning with KMOU, KTA and FTA covering the identification of marine healing resources, efficacy analysis, joint research on marine healing programs and the exchange of specialists.

KIOST plans to use the agreement as a springboard to deepen cooperation with overseas institutions and continue its research into the efficacy and standardization of marine healing resources.

"Interest in healing and wellness industries that draw on marine resources is growing worldwide," KIOST President Lee Hee-seung said. "We hope this gathering of institutions with different areas of expertise will serve as a platform for advancing the shared goal of developing the marine healing industry."