Busan Workation Named No. 1 at the 2026 Workation Model Competition
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Busan Workation Named No. 1 at the 2026 Workation Model Competition
□ On March 24, 2026, Busan Metropolitan City claimed first place at the 2026 Workation Model Competition, hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization. Workation refers to doing remote work in a vacation setting.
□ This national initiative aimed to identify extended-stay visitation approaches that stimulate regional economic growth, in line with the government’s tourism revitalization policy. Busan received outstanding evaluations across document reviews, presentations, and field inspections, ultimately achieving the top ranking.
○ Busan was recognized for the following strengths: ▲ An environment that caters to both work and relaxation by combining urban convenience with natural surroundings, ▲ a robust tourism profile, drawing over three million travelers annually, and ▲ comprehensive infrastructure, with the entire area functioning under a workation-friendly framework.
○ The effectiveness of its model was reflected in: ▲ strategies to boost the local economy by increasing the number of long-term guests, ▲ win-win structures linking workation schemes with citywide businesses, and ▲ proven performance results and concrete action plans.
□ Busan has been awarded 200 million won and will pursue project expansion alongside the Korea Tourism Organization.
○ Partnerships with major economic associations—the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Federation of Korean Industries—will bolster targeted marketing and support efforts to further attract corporate employees and digital nomads.
○ The secured budget will be used to broaden participation, foster residential tourism and relevant populations, and consolidate a resilient ecosystem.
□ Busan is poised to further advance as an international benchmark where professional and recreational activities coexist.
○ It will align metropolitan facilities with hospitality offerings to balance work and leisure, while also enhancing interactive encounters that utilize community spaces and assets to encourage repeat visits.
○ A sustainable workation cycle will be cultivated through joint networks uniting public and private sector capabilities.
□ Mayor Park Heong-joon emphasized, “Busan has once again shown its leadership as a workation destination in Korea. By actively leveraging national funding and close ties with the Korea Tourism Organization, we will dedicate our full administrative capacity to establishing Busan as a global workation hub where talented people from around the world most aspire to stay and work.”
