Delegations from the United Nations, World Bank, and World Wildlife Fund visited Wando County to study the region's advanced seaweed farming industry [1].
This visit underscores the growing global interest in algae as a sustainable food source and a viable economic model for developing nations. By observing Wando's infrastructure, international organizations aim to facilitate technology transfers to the Global South to combat food insecurity.
Wando County, located in South Jeolla Province, has become a central hub for aquaculture in South Korea. The region produces approximately 50% of the nation's total seaweed output [2]. Local government officials, led by Mayor Shin Woo-chul, have focused on scaling the industry to position seaweed as a critical future food source [3].
The visiting delegations focused on the intersection of government investment and industrial growth. Maurait Lorrin of the World Bank delegation said the group visited to learn how the local government invested in and developed the seaweed industry [4].
Environmental and sustainability goals also drove the visit. Paul turbines of the WWF delegation asked Mayor Shin about the specific changes and developments that have occurred within the Wando seaweed industry during the mayor's tenure [5].
Public interest in the sector has surged alongside international attention. A recent seaweed expo in the region attracted approximately 170,000 visitors [6]. The scale of this engagement reflects the transition of seaweed from a traditional regional crop to a high-tech industry with global applications, ranging from nutrition to environmental restoration.
Mayor Shin said the industry is a future food source and a vital part of the marine ecosystem [3].
“Wando produces approximately 50% of the nation's total seaweed output.”
The interest from the World Bank and UN suggests that Wando's seaweed model is being viewed not just as a commercial success, but as a scalable blueprint for climate-resilient agriculture. As traditional land-based farming faces pressure from soil degradation and water scarcity, the shift toward marine-based 'blue foods' provides a pathway for the Global South to achieve food sovereignty using South Korea's technical framework.
