Wando County in South Jeolla Province is constructing a marine healing center, a bio-center, and a national maritime and fisheries museum [1, 2].

These developments aim to transform the region into a hub for future industries by utilizing the carbon-absorbing properties of seaweed. As the world moves toward carbon neutrality, the county is positioning seaweed as a primary growth engine to attract international attention and investment [1, 2].

The initiative includes the establishment of the first marine healing center in South Korea [1]. This facility provides educational marine healing programs, which officials said have made the area an optimal destination for school field trips and student excursions [2].

Local leadership has tied the success of these projects to the support of the community. "The residents have waited. They believed in and supported the county administration's vision for Wando's future," Shin Woo-cheol, the governor of Wando County, said. "Without that trust, the Wando of today would not exist" [1].

The strategy integrates tourism with scientific research. By combining the national museum with bio-centers, the county intends to promote the ecological and economic value of seaweed to international organizations [1, 2]. This multi-pronged approach targets both the educational sector and the global biotechnology market, focusing on the clean waters of the southern coast.

Officials continue to accelerate the construction of the national maritime and fisheries museum to complement the existing healing and bio infrastructure [1]. This expansion is intended to solidify the region's status as a center for marine science and wellness [2].

“The region is leveraging seaweed's carbon-neutral properties to build a national maritime museum.”

Wando County's investment represents a strategic shift toward 'blue economy' development. By linking environmental carbon sequestration (via seaweed) with public health (marine healing) and education (the national museum), the region is attempting to diversify its economy away from traditional fishing and toward high-value biotechnology and sustainable tourism.