Miryang City Launches Senior Wellness Program and Secures Tourism Funding

Miryang City, South Gyeongsang Province, is enhancing services for its senior population and bolstering its tourism sector with two recently announced initiatives. The city has designated Deoksan Senior Center in Cheongdo-myeon and Gagok 4-Tong Senior Center in Gagok-dong as pilot sites for a latest “Smart Well-being Senior Center” program, and has been selected to receive funding for a “Local Love Vacation Support Project.”

Smart Well-being Senior Center Pilot Project

The city selected the two senior centers after a comprehensive evaluation process involving 14 applications from across Miryang. A ‘Smart Senior Center Selection Committee’ assessed each location based on space suitability, communication infrastructure, and user base. Miryang City Hall announced the selections on February 27, 2026.

From March to May, the selected centers will offer programs focused on digital mental health, well-being, and cognitive stimulation, alongside education on healthy living practices including exercise, nutrition, and oral health. Seo Yi-sook, head of the city’s health promotion department, stated the city will continue to develop health promotion programs for seniors to support active and healthy lifestyles.

2026 Local Love Vacation Support Project

Miryang City has also been chosen to participate in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization’s ‘Local Love Vacation Support Project.’ This initiative refunds 50% of travel costs to tourists using mobile local currency, with a maximum refund of 100,000 won for individual travelers and 200,000 won for groups of two or more. Miryang City Hall announced the selection on February 27, 2026.

The city secured 300 million won in government funding and plans to invest a total of 1 billion won, including city funds allocated through a supplementary budget, to attract tourists starting in April. The project is targeted towards residents outside of Miryang City, with a focus on attracting foreign tourists by excluding residents of neighboring areas with overlapping living zones.

The selection was influenced by the success of the ‘Banhada Miryang Half-Price Tour’ program implemented last year. City officials highlighted the program’s success in creating a “win-win tourism model” that encourages visitors to stay longer, spend more, and return. The city intends to shift its tourism strategy towards healing and wellness tourism, emphasizing value-centered experiences over simply low-cost travel.

A city official stated that the project’s selection demonstrates Miryang’s transition from a simple tourist destination to a city where visitors stay and contribute to the local economy, and pledged to actively promote the initiative to revitalize the local economy.

Key Takeaways

• Miryang City is investing in the well-being of its senior citizens through a new pilot program at two local senior centers.
• The city has secured funding to attract tourists through a program offering refunds on travel expenses.
• Miryang is shifting its tourism focus towards healing and wellness experiences.