Korea Maritime and Ocean University signed a four-way MOU with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, the French Thalassotherapy Association and the Korea Therapy Association to advance the marine healing industry. [Provided by Korea Maritime and Ocean University]
Korea Maritime and Ocean University signed a four-way MOU with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, the French Thalassotherapy Association and the Korea Therapy Association to advance the marine healing industry. [Provided by Korea Maritime and Ocean University]

Korea Maritime and Ocean University announced Wednesday that it signed a four-way MOU with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), the French Thalassotherapy Association (FTA) and the Korea Therapy Association (KTA) to promote the development of the marine healing industry.

Under the agreement, the four organizations will collaborate across multiple fronts to advance the industry, including joint research into discovering marine healing resources and analyzing their efficacy, shared program operations and exchanges of specialist personnel.

The university has consistently focused on marine healing — widely regarded as a future growth engine — through its Marine Healing Research Center, building the scientific foundations of the industry through ongoing research. Its work has spanned a broad range of research and development, from commercializing marine healing technologies and developing customized healthcare services incorporating ICT and IoT to conducting clinical studies verifying the efficacy of marine healing resources, with the Sports Medicine Laboratory playing a central role.

Kim Jeong-hun, director of the university's Marine Healing Research Center, said the MOU would mark a turning point for the field. "We will move into full gear on joint research, participation in national R&D projects and shared data utilization to maximize synergies among industry, academia and research institutions," he said. "We will identify the core technologies the marine healing sector requires and significantly enhance our research expertise."

University President Ryu Dong-geun said the institution would draw on its academic expertise and convergence research capabilities in the maritime field to work closely with its partners. "We will do our utmost to lead the development of new industries in marine healing and cultivate outstanding specialists," he said.


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