Wonju, July 15 - On July 14, 2022, the Korea National Park Service (KNPS, Chairman Song Hyung-geun) under the Ministry of Environment signed an MOU with the Seoul Business Agency (SBA, CEO Kim Hyun-woo) at the SBA office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, for a pilot project of workation program. A "workation" refers to working while on vacation. During working hours, people can work in the vacation spot and immediately enjoy their vacation at the same place after work. Under the MOU, 124 employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Seoul would be able to experience a workation at the nature centers in three national parks, including Naejangsan, Gayasan, and Hallyeohaesang, for four days in mid-October.

The KNPS will provide working spaces for workation and nature experience programs to employees of SMEs. On the other hand, the SBA will recruit participants and partially cover the costs of workation programs. The national park nature centers will offer the participants a range of nature experience programs like outdoor yoga and trail hiking. The two institutions believe the MOU has become an exemplary case of cooperation to improve the working culture by linking each party's specialized business. They plan to evaluate and upgrade this pilot project to promote more sustainable projects in the future.

In addition, the KNPS and SBA will conduct an exploration program for 51 HR representatives or employees from SMEs at the Gayasan National Park Nature Center for two days in mid-September. This program is designed to encourage SMEs to hold various corporate events, such as meetings and workation programs, while enjoying nature and local tourism in the national parks. The nature centers located in eight national parks across the country are equipped with accommodation facilities, lecture halls, restaurants, and outdoor plazas surrounded by the beauty of nature. They are among the best places to host corporate meetings, banquets (workshops), and academic conferences (seminars).

"The project is a good example that shows how companies can take advantage of nature in national parks," said KNPS Chairman Song. "We intend to devise policies for disseminating relevant projects."