The rural workation program is expanding to two locations in the Jeonnam-Gwangju area, allowing participants to work while enjoying leisure and travel.
The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City announced that Naju Eco-Wangok Village has been newly selected as a rural workation space by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
As a result, the rural workation options in the Jeonnam-Gwangju area now include Naju Eco-Wangok Village in addition to the existing Gokseong Rustic Town.
The Integrated Special City will provide support for workation users in both locations, offering up to 50,000 won per person per day on weekdays, along with travel insurance. The support period runs from September to November, allowing for a maximum stay of five days.
A workation combines work and vacation, enabling individuals to perform remote work in locations away from their usual workspaces while enjoying tourism and relaxation after work hours.
Naju Eco-Wangok Village, the newly selected site, is a rural experience and leisure village that utilizes the natural and cultural resources of the countryside.
It offers year-round programs that highlight local characteristics, including Naju pear harvesting, making Naju pear syrup, and woodworking. The village also features programs that integrate ecological education and healing rural tourism, as well as a brunch buffet restaurant that uses local food and a multi-experience space.
The existing workation site, Gokseong Rustic Town, is located in Gokseong's Simcheong Story Village. It allows visitors to balance work and relaxation amid traditional Korean houses and rural scenery, with experience programs in pottery, woodworking, and natural dyeing.
Additionally, stay programs linked to nearby tourist attractions, such as the Seomjin River and the train village, have been established to allow workation users to explore the area after work hours.
Individuals interested in participating in the rural workation can register on the dedicated platform 'Dear Monday,' where they can make reservations and payments, and submit an application form along with proof of employment. Both employees and self-employed individuals, including freelancers, are eligible to apply.
Kim Hyun-mi, head of the Agricultural Policy Division of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, stated, “The rural workation offers urban residents the opportunity to experience the values of rural workplaces, living spaces, and relaxation.” She added, “We aim to respond to changing tourism demands by utilizing excellent rural tourism resources and diverse experiences, thereby contributing to the revitalization of rural tourism and the expansion of related populations.”
Meanwhile, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City plans to expand rural tourism resources in Naju and Gokseong in conjunction with workations, moving beyond simple tourism to a stay-type rural tourism that involves working, experiencing, and building relationships with the local community. The city also intends to broaden participation from businesses and organizations while continuously discovering programs linked to local residents.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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