Yeon Jin-guk, an intern researcher at the Funding Institute. Filled with determination and passion, Yeon Jin-guk has finally been assigned his first task.
“Hey, intern researcher, would you like to write a funding research log?”
Yeon Jin-guk, who got scolded on his first day of work for confusing "cloud" with "crowd" (
How on earth did you end up becoming a research intern?Will he actually be able to carry out the mission successfully?Here begins Yeon Jin-guk’s Funding Exploration Journal.
While researching “travel” in my last funding journal, a word caught my eye.
"Workation"
Everyone has heard of work-life balance. Now, we’re said to be in the era of “work-life blending.” With more people pursuing side hustles and multiple careers, the nature of work has become increasingly diverse. As a result, it may no longer make sense to strictly separate work and life as if flipping a switch. Instead, it’s about seamlessly blending the two and moving fluidly between them. That is precisely what work-life blending is all about.
"Workation" (a portmanteau of "work" and "vacation") is one way to achieve this work-life balance. It’s a form of remote work that allows you to enjoy both work and vacation at the same time while on holiday. As restrictions on going out and social contact were imposed due to COVID-19, stable environments for working from home were established through advancements in digital technology and business systems. Thanks to this, working outside the office has naturally become easier. It’s no longer as inconvenient as it used to be. (Hooray for our IT powerhouse!)
Since workation allows me to choose my own workspace, it’s highly likely that my work will be more efficient. This is perhaps only natural, given that I’m working under optimal conditions that take into account my state of mind, preferences, favorite sounds, and atmosphere. As soon as I finish work, I’m just a few steps away from my vacation spot. There’s simply no other opportunity to recharge this quickly.
Workation has only just crossed the starting line. It’s not just a fleeting trend; it’s racing toward becoming a permanent fixture in the way we work. I heard Gangneung City recently held a Workation Festival—could workation be one of the most talked-about forms of work-life balance right now? The amazing thing is that workation was already Wadizbefore the Gangneung Workation Festival even took place! As always, crowdfunding is fast—so fast! And so trendy—so trendy!
In this research log, we’ll take a look at early “workation” projects that have secured funding. Let’s also consider the roles that supporters and funding play in this new work lifestyle.
Workation Through Crowdfunding
"Iro Ocean," a workation brand that ran a crowdfunding campaign on Wadizlast summer. “We help you—who are exhausted but cannot rest—realize a way to work and relax amidst nature.” This is Iro Ocean’s slogan. Iro Ocean’s goal is to successfully establish the workation culture in Korea, so that people who think, “Isn’t a workation just a vacation?” will come to see it as “a smart way to work.” The company focuses on fostering trust and consideration between companies and employees.
Based on this goal, Iro Ocean provides a workspace and environment conducive to productive work, accommodations and programs designed for rest and relaxation, and networking programs where participants can share insights and recharge.
If there’s a brand called “Ilo Ocean” on the east coast, there’s “Outdoor Island” on the south coast. Located in the coastal village of Jangseungpo, Outdoor Island offers a well-rounded mix of resources—including accommodations, a lounge, a coworking space, mountains, and the sea—that allow you to work effectively and relax fully. Thanks to this, the commute is no longer a hellish train ride spent staring at the back of the person in front of you, but rather a time for strolling, surfing, trekking, and camping. An “outdoor vacation” pursues a daily life where work and rest flow seamlessly together.
I went on a workcation! A supporter's story
Just then, I heard that a friend from the lab next door had gone on a workcation thanks to funding from the Ilocean project. It was the perfect opportunity to interview a supporter! I didn’t want to miss it, so I met up with my friend to hear about what makes this funding initiative special and its future potential.
Why Workation Funding?
I went on a workcation simply out of curiosity. Is it really true that it boosts work efficiency? I couldn’t believe it until I experienced it for myself. Workcations are emerging as a new trend in work-life balance these days, and I thought I might get to meet the pioneers (makers) shaping this culture. Above all, isn’t it amazing that you can enjoy a service like this through crowdfunding? That’s why I went.
What about the work environment? There are all kinds of places to work. Some, like study cafes, are perfect for focusing, and there are plenty of coworking spaces too. If you want to work on the beach with a view of the ocean, you can use the remote work kit. It comes fully equipped with a desk, chair, Wi-Fi hotspot, power bank (for charging devices), and a blanket, so I didn’t feel any discomfort.
The work environment is so open! I mainly handle routine tasks, which can easily lead to a rut. Even though the work itself is the same, changing the environment made me want to tackle it with more enthusiasm! Thanks to that, I came up with a lot of new ideas from an operational perspective on how to improve these routine tasks. Now that I’m back in the lab, I’m putting those ideas into practice and applying them to my work. This approach would be much more efficient for roles that require planning and generating ideas!
This is where I used to work
As for my daily routine, I wake up, hop on the shuttle, and head to whichever shared office I want. The main office has a rooftop where they hold morning yoga sessions—it’s the perfect way to wake up my body and mind before work. Lunchtime was a precious opportunity to explore Gangneung’s best restaurants. I visited every place I wanted to, from the Chodang Sundubu Village to famous makguksu spots. On the way back, I even grabbed a takeout coffee from a famous café. After spending my usual lunch breaks in the concrete jungle, having this special experience made me feel really happy! Thanks to that, I spent the afternoon working with tons of energy.
The biggest perk of a workcation is that it starts right now. As soon as you finish work and get up from your desk, you’re already at a travel destination or resort. There were all kinds of activities available, like the Seongyo-jang tour and the Anbandeugi stargazing tour. Since anyone participating in the workcation program could join the tours, I was able to strike up conversations naturally with people from all sorts of professions.
Don't you think looking at stars like that in the night sky would give you a new sense of motivation?
Meet the Workation Program Creator
More than anything, my conversation with Maker is what sticks in my mind. Everyone in our lab is curious about Maker, right? Thanks to Maker, I was able to see the direction the workation culture is heading. I figured that with a resort right in front of me, I’d be too tempted to get up and move around, so I assumed managers wouldn’t like it—but nope! Actually, companies are encouraging workations these days. I’ve even heard that teams are requesting bespoke workation programs. It’s like going on a workshop together. Since you can have conversations in a relaxed atmosphere, I think it’ll spark all kinds of ideas.
Talking with Maker, I realized that for this culture to take root, we need to shift our perspective from simply “filling time” at work to a task-oriented approach focused on getting things done. Maker seemed to be deeply committed to figuring out how to create a space where people can truly focus on their work. I imagine this is because they believe that focus drives performance, and that, in turn, proves the value of workation. I suppose this insight came from observing the early adopters of workation.
Workation: A New Lifestyle Built on Participation
Workation is still in its experimental phase as it seeks to establish itself. To ensure that the true meaning of this work style is not distorted or altered and that it takes root successfully, we urgently need the participation and feedback of many people. Only when we gather these voices, reflect on them, and share a common direction with others can it truly take root as a healthy culture. Isn’t this precisely why makers seeking to pioneer a new lifestyle turn to crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding brings together active supporters who are willing to engage in this journey with us.
That's all for Day 8.
I hope workation catches on, so that someday I too can write this journal while gazing out at the sea.
View other logs 👀
Episode 1: “My First Assignment Has Been Assigned”
Episode 2: “Funding: One Name, Several Meanings”
Episode 3: “One Heartfelt Story Is Worth More Than Ten Features”
Episode 4: “We Are Gen Z, Launching Crowdfunding Campaigns”
Episode 5: “Is There Such a Crowdfunding Campaign? People Deeply Dedicated to a Single Cause”
Episode 6: “Is There Such a Crowdfunding Campaign? Everyone’s Own Way of Thinking About the Environment”
Episode 7: “Let’s Go on a Special Trip Through Crowdfunding”
Episode 9: “SNS Hotspots and Must-Try Restaurants Make Their Crowdfunding Debut!”
Episode 10: “Showcasing Delicacies from Across the Country Through Crowdfunding!”
Episode 11: “Crowdfunding: A Dash of Exclusivity for the Good Life”
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