An urban wellness festival where visitors can experience exercise, food, art, relaxation and meditation in turn, all under one roof, is coming to Hannam-dong in Seoul. Hanwha General Insurance said on the 15th that it would hold Wellness Cruise Hannam, an urban wellness culture festival, at its Hannam-dong headquarters over five days, from the 21st to the 25th.
Hanwha General Insurance’s first wellness culture project
The event is the first wellness culture project to be presented by Hanwha General Insurance. It has been designed to let people experience at first hand different ways of caring for their physical and mental health in everyday life. More than 30 brands are taking part, including PLUS CLOVR, the Hanwha Financial Group’s PLUS joint-brand wellness brand for women during pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing. Twelve themed spaces devoted to exercise, food culture and relaxation will be set up inside the headquarters.
Meditation through sound, lighting and fragrance
The relaxation and meditation area will be of particular interest to meditation enthusiasts. In a separate space of about 200 pyeong, meditation programmes using sound, lighting and fragrance will be run alongside ceiling service. An ondol-style sauna by SASASA will also be available.
Meditation through the senses can offer an accessible way in for people who find it daunting to sit still and simply focus on their breathing. By listening closely to sounds and paying attention to changes in light and to scents, visitors can experience letting their attention settle in one place instead of constantly flitting between smartphone screens. For those new to meditation, the festival offers a relaxed setting in which to explore which sensory approach suits them.
Art-like exercise equipment and regional food classes
Yachae Gym, which brings art and exercise together, will present exercise equipment created by artists Jong Wan Jang and Joon Ho Jang of the artist duo BBK. Visitors will be able to try the equipment, which has been made as works of art, for themselves.
The food culture research project Ipmal Eumsik will introduce traditional foods and seasonal ingredients from Andong, Gangwon Province and Hamgyeong Province, with classes where visitors can learn about and taste them. In the food and drink area, specialty coffee brand PERLEN will run a non-alcoholic bar serving coffee and tea, while visitors can also try SANS alternative coffee and Jeongnammi Myeonggwa’s bakery products made with famine-relief crops.
Discover your wellness profile through games
A wellness-type test developed by Hanwha General Insurance’s Femtech Research Institute will also be available. In a casino-themed space, visitors will play games to learn about their lifestyle and wellness profile. DJ performances by electronic musician Cifika will take place on the 23rd and 24th, followed from the 24th to the 25th by a talk programme featuring four speakers on life balance and everyday energy.
Open daily from 11am to 9pm; free entry
The event will run daily from 11am to 9pm. Visitors can attend free of charge without a separate ticket, although some experience programmes and classes are paid or require advance booking. Details of the schedule and how to book are available on the official website.
A Hanwha General Insurance representative said the event had been prepared to help visitors discover the wellness approaches that suit them through a range of cultural activities and experiences.
Meditation becomes one of the many ways to take a break in everyday life
A financial company opening its headquarters to the public and placing meditation alongside exercise, food and saunas reflects a wider trend: meditation is moving from a dedicated practice into the range of everyday wellness choices. Here, rather than being presented as the one right answer, meditation is offered as one way to rest alongside exercise, food and relaxation. For anyone who still finds seated meditation remote, exploring different experiences — moving the body, tasting food and engaging the senses — can be a good way to find an approach to meditation that feels right.
Enquiries about the article: fare3041@naver.com