The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 26th that it will operate a 'remote work vacation (workation) program' for 1,560 central government officials starting this February.
Workation is a combination of work and vacation. It means working at a vacation destination away from the usual office. For instance, it involves working at hotels or resorts in regions such as Jeju and Busan, while spending free time nearby outside of work hours.
The government-supported workation targets 1,200 officials from 19 ministries and the Office for Government Policy Coordination, as well as 360 from 30 offices, agencies, and commissions.
The work locations include 7 sites each in Gangwon and Chungnam, 5 in Jeonnam, 4 in Gyeongnam, 3 each in Busan and Incheon, 2 in Gyeongbuk, and 1 site in Jeonbuk. The capital region, including Seoul and Gyeonggi, as well as major cities, are excluded.
A Ministry of the Interior and Safety official noted, "Since the purpose of the workation support is to revitalize the local economy, it is being operated primarily in regions facing population decline," adding, "Various programs are planned to be established in the target areas."
Central government officials wishing to participate in the workation should submit a plan and other documents to the secretariat. The government will provide support funds, office space, travelers insurance, and more to the participants.
Deputy Minister Kim Min-jae stated, "We will continue to implement various policies that can activate the local populations to respond to regional population decline."