Lee Min-keun, the mayor of Ansan, expressed his commitment on August 9 to establish a unique marine healing foundation in Ansan, drawing on experiences from Usedom, a prominent marine healing resort in Germany.
During his visit, Mayor Lee toured the Usedom Marine Healing Center and a rehabilitation hospital, examining local healing programs, operational systems, professional staffing, and user-centered services.
Currently visiting Germany, Mayor Lee is experiencing advanced marine healing and rehabilitation systems firsthand and has signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with the Usedom Marine Healing Rehabilitation Hospital, aiming to develop a new healing and rehabilitation model utilizing Ansan's marine resources.
He particularly engaged in various programs, including a 'Children's Healing Forest' and activities like mist therapy and yoga, assessing facilities and programs from the user's perspective.
This visit was not merely a facility tour; it involved a detailed examination of the healing process, user flow, and facility convenience, which is significant for finding practical operational models applicable to the future Ansan Marine Healing Center.
Mayor Lee held discussions with Usedom officials, exchanging insights on operational experiences in marine healing and rehabilitation, program development, professional training, and facility management systems.
The focus of their collaboration is to evolve marine healing beyond mere tourism into an industry linked to health management and rehabilitation.
Following this, they signed a memorandum of understanding for 'Cooperation in Marine Healing and Rehabilitation.'
The agreement includes sharing information and operational cases in marine healing and rehabilitation, collaborating on the development and operation of healing processes, training professionals, sharing facility management systems, and identifying joint cooperation projects.
With Mayor Lee's direct engagement and the establishment of an international cooperation foundation, this collaboration is expected to lead to a new regional industry model that combines tourism, health, and rehabilitation utilizing Ansan's marine resources.
Local citizens have expressed optimism about this international collaboration.
Residents believe that given Ansan's rich marine and natural environment, including Daebu Island and Shihwa Lake, it is essential to create differentiated marine healing programs tailored to Ansan's natural environment and citizens' lifestyles rather than simply adopting foreign advanced cases.
One resident stated, "Ansan has many resources that can differentiate it from other cities, such as the sea, islands, and Shihwa Lake. I hope facilities and programs that citizens can actually use and experience are developed, drawing on Germany's advanced operational methods."
Another resident remarked, "If marine healing can connect not only to attracting tourists but also to citizens' health management and revitalizing the local economy, it would be significant. I hope this international cooperation leads to actual projects rather than being a one-time visit."
Mayor Lee Min-keun noted, "Through this visit, I was able to directly experience marine healing and confirm what facilities and operational methods are needed from the user's perspective."
He added, "Having established a practical foundation for exchange and cooperation with the Usedom Marine Healing Center and Rehabilitation Hospital, I will actively integrate their excellent operational experiences to fit Ansan's conditions."
Meanwhile, Mayor Lee plans to continuously share advanced marine healing and rehabilitation experiences from Usedom and develop programs and operational systems suited to Ansan's marine environment and regional characteristics.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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