Here's How South Korea Gets Wellness Right

Beyond the K-Pop fandom and Winter Olympic Games, South Korea is home to a quiet wellness scene steeped in tradition that could serve as a model for the rest of the world. From the food to the great outdoors, here are a few of the ways wellness is happening in a big way In the Land of the Morning Calm.

There’s also been a spike in outdoor camping for many Koreans, which is said to be attributed to the high levels of stress and burnout that many urban dwellers experience on a day-to-day basis. "We live in an extremely fierce and competitive world. Coming out here in nature, I feel a sense of healing. So I keep coming back," one camper told Korean news website arirang.com.

The list of health benefits associated with the consumption of fermented veggies are seemingly endless: From digestive and skin health to gut maintenance and nutrient absorption, fermentation is the new black in the wellness world, but in South Korea, it's a mainstay in cuisine and culture. Kimchi is a condiment served with most meals in Korea. Made up of fermented cabbage, garlic, vinegar, and spices, the condiment is loaded with vitamins A, B, C and in most abundance, lactobacilli—a good bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt.

These retreats cater to the overworked and overhauled members of Korean society (professionals, stay-at-home mothers, and even high school students) and encourage guests to detach themselves from worldly affairs by focusing inward on their spiritual healing, without the crutch of everyday distractions such as their phones, technology, and work. Meditation also has its roots in Korean culture, where temples and meditation centers serve the dominant Buddhist population.

Spas don’t get the best rep for being affordable and inclusive, especially in the wellness world—but Korean spas might just be an exception. These spas are a dime a dozen in major U.S. cities like New York City and Los Angeles—two of the cities with the largest Korean populations—and follow suit after Korea’s popular bathhouse culture. In Korea, traditional bathhouses are known as "jjimijilbang" and attract crowds looking for community, relaxation, and other amenities like hot and cold saunas, swimming pools, and Jacuzzis. They’re commonplace throughout most of South Korea and run the gamut from upper echelon status to your local-tourist-designated spots.

Interested in personalizing wellness in your world? Read how one woman redefined wellness on her own terms, for health and happiness.