Gangneung City is accelerating the construction of the 'Business Workation Support Center,' a key infrastructure aimed at attracting digital nomads and remote workers. Having broken ground in January, the center is currently undergoing smooth construction and is targeted for completion in November of this year, raising expectations for Gangneung City's leap forward as a workation hub.

The center will be located on the rear site of the Green City Experience Center's training building, at 251-1 Gyo-dong, Gangneung City. This two-story facility will feature a variety of amenities designed to enhance both work efficiency and the quality of rest for workation users, including open workspaces, efficient meeting rooms, and comfortable lounge areas. Notably, it is designed to allow users to focus on work while enjoying Gangneung City's beautiful natural scenery, promising a differentiated experience from conventional office environments.

The construction of this center is being pursued as part of Gangneung City's long-term regional revitalization strategy. The spread of remote and flexible work cultures after the COVID-19 pandemic gave birth to a new lifestyle: 'workation.' Workation, a portmanteau of 'work' and 'vacation,' refers to a work arrangement where individuals combine work with leisure time at a vacation destination. Gangneung City, with its abundant natural environment and rich cultural heritage, is optimally suited for workation. By leveraging these strengths through the construction of the Business Workation Support Center, the city aims to attract digital nomads and remote workers from across the country to Gangneung. Their stay and resulting consumption activities are expected to contribute to the growth of the 'relationship population,' ultimately leading to regional economic revitalization and the securing of new growth engines.

Upon the center's completion, customized operational programs embodying Gangneung's unique charm will be developed and implemented. Beyond simply providing workspaces, the plan is to maximize user satisfaction through diverse linked programs that allow workation users to experience Gangneung's sea, mountains, and historical culture. For instance, programs highlighting Gangneung's unique characteristics, such as surfing lessons, beach yoga, coffee street tours, and temple stays, will be available outside of work hours, offering a balanced experience of work and leisure. Such customized programs will serve as crucial factors in encouraging users to stay longer in Gangneung and want to return. Furthermore, the city plans to establish a virtuous cycle that provides tangible benefits to local small business owners through cooperation.

Gangneung City has set a goal to establish a sustainable workation environment through the Business Workation Support Center and firmly solidify its status as a workation hub city. To achieve this, it plans to increase the efficiency of the center's operations and continuously improve service quality by actively reflecting user feedback. Additionally, centered around the facility, the city intends to foster a workation-friendly environment throughout Gangneung and expand the workation ecosystem by strengthening cooperation with relevant companies and institutions. This is expected to play a significant role in making Gangneung perceived not just as a tourist destination, but as a "city where people want to live" and a "city where people want to work."

Gangneung Mayor Kim Hong-gyu stated, "By providing a space where work and vacation can be combined, those who visit Gangneung will come to perceive it as a city where they want to stay." He added, "We expect a stay-type workation environment to be created where work and leisure are organically connected." Mayor Kim's remarks indicate that the construction of this center is a core part of Gangneung City's envisioned future city model. Starting with the Business Workation Support Center, Gangneung City is expected to continue pursuing various policies aligned with the digital transformation era to enhance its urban competitiveness. Whether Gangneung City's workation success can set a precedent for other local governments, offering a new model for urban development, remains to be seen with keen interest.

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