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 be able to carry out the mission successfully?Here begins Yeon Jin-guk’s Funding Exploration Diary.
While researching “travel” for my last funding journal, a certain 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 taking on side gigs and multiple jobs, the nature of work has become more 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 doing both simultaneously and moving flexibly between them. That is exactly 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 you to choose your own workspace, it’s highly likely that your work will be more efficient. This is perhaps only natural, given that you’re working under optimal conditions that take into account your state of mind, preferences, favorite sounds, and atmosphere. The moment you finish work, you’re just a few steps away from your vacation spot. There’s simply no other opportunity to recharge this quickly.
Workation has only just gotten off the ground. It’s not just a fleeting trend; it’s on its way to becoming a permanent fixture in the world of work. I heard that 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 a thing Wadizeven before the Gangneung Workation Festival! As always, crowdfunding is fast and 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 realize a way to work and rest amidst nature, even when you’re exhausted but can’t take a break”—that’s 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 instead say, “That’s a really 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 their energy.
If the eastern coast has the brand “Ilo Ocean,” then the southern coast has “Outdoor Island.” 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 crowded train ride spent staring at the back of the person in front of you, but rather a time for walking, surfing, hiking, and camping. An outdoor workation pursues a daily routine that seamlessly shifts between work and rest.
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 Ilo Ocean project. It was the perfect opportunity to interview a supporter! I didn’t want to miss out, 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 that 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, 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 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 a forest of office buildings, having this special experience made me feel really happy! Thanks to that, I spent the afternoon working with tons of energy.
The best part of a workation is what comes next. Once 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, such as a tour of Seonkyo-jang and a stargazing tour at Anbandeugi. Since anyone participating in the workation program could join these tours, I was able to strike up conversations naturally with people from all walks of life.
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 with me the most. 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 us, I’d be too tempted to get up and move around, so I assumed managers wouldn’t like it—but I was wrong! In fact, companies are actually encouraging workcations these days. I’ve even heard that teams are requesting bespoke workcation programs. It’s like going on a group workshop together. Since we can have conversations in a relaxed atmosphere, I think it’ll spark all kinds of ideas.
What struck me during my conversation with Maker was that this culture will only truly take root if we view work not as a way to fill time, but as a task-oriented endeavor. Maker seemed deeply committed to figuring out how to create a space where people can 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 take root. To ensure that this work model establishes itself properly without its true meaning being distorted or altered, we urgently need the participation and feedback of many people. Only when we gather these voices, reflect on them, and share our 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 collective thinking.
That's all for Day 8.
I hope workation becomes a well-established concept, 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, Three or Four 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 Thing as This Kind of Fundraising? 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: “Trendy Restaurants from Social Media Make Their Crowdfunding Debut!”
Episode 10: “Showcasing Delicacies from Across the Country Through Crowdfunding!”
Episode 11: “Crowdfunding: A Dash of Excitement for Your Best Life”
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