(Daily Point) — South Korea’s Ministry of Justice is set to launch a trial phase for a new visa aimed at facilitating workation experiences for foreign nationals starting on January 1, 2024.

The innovative “workcation visa” will permit eligible individuals to stay in Korea for up to one year from their entry date, with the option to extend for an additional year.

Coined from the words “work” and “vacation,” workation refers to a modern trend where individuals seamlessly blend their regular work commitments with long-term travel. Responding to this emerging trend, various countries in Europe, Central and South America, as well as Southeast Asia, have introduced workation visas for digital nomads.

The Ministry of Justice in South Korea anticipates that the introduction of the workation visa will not only encourage economic activity but also attract high-income foreign nationals to explore different regions of Korea. This initiative is seen as an opportunity to enhance the global promotion of the country.

To be eligible for the workation visa, individuals must be affiliated with foreign companies. It’s important to note that recipients of the workation visa are restricted from engaging in employment with local companies or participating in for-profit activities within Korea. For profit-related activities, a separate work visa must be obtained.

Visa applications can be submitted at Korean embassies, and those currently on short-term stays in Korea may also change their visas if they meet the specified requirements. The workcation visa aims to cater to the growing trend of remote work and travel, providing foreign nationals with the opportunity to experience Korea while continuing their professional commitments.