The purpose of this study is to conduct a pre-evaluation of the appropriateness of introducing marine healing programs proposed in the architectural design competition for the Jeju Marine Healing Center Construction Project. To achieve this objective,...
The purpose of this study is to conduct a pre-evaluation of the appropriateness of introducing marine healing programs proposed in the architectural design competition for the Jeju Marine Healing Center Construction Project. To achieve this objective, Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) was applied to examine expert perceptions regarding the importance and necessity of each proposed program. The expert panel consisted of 25 specialists with professional or research experience in marine healing and related therapeutic fields, and a total of 17 programs scheduled for introduction at the Jeju Marine Healing Center were evaluated. The results of the IPA revealed that programs directly utilizing core marine resources—such as thalasso pools, mud-salt therapy, seaweed spa therapy, Vichy shower therapy, seawater pools, and jet spa therapy—were perceived as having both high importance and high necessity, indicating priority for introduction. In contrast, programs with weaker linkages to marine resources or those easily substitutable by general wellness facilities were evaluated as having relatively low importance and necessity. Volcanic scoria therapy and lava seawater mist therapy were identified as programs with high necessity but lower perceived importance, suggesting the need for further scientific validation and program development. This study is significant in that it represents a pre-evaluation conducted at the planning stage of a public marine healing facility, rather than a post-evaluation based on operational outcomes. The findings provide practical and policy-relevant implications for establishing program priorities and operational strategies for the Jeju Marine Healing Center, and they highlight the importance of expert-based pre-evaluation in the development of public marine healing infrastructure.