This Year's Worker Vacation Support Program Accepting Applications from the 30th... Targeting 80,000 People

Photo by Korea Tourism Organization

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 29th that they will recruit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small business workers to participate in this year's Worker Vacation Support Project from the 30th until March 4.

The Worker Vacation Support Project is a system where workers pay 200,000 KRW, and the government and the respective company each add 100,000 KRW, allowing workers to use a total travel expense of 400,000 KRW for domestic travel. Over the past two years, about 10,000 SMEs and 100,000 small business workers have participated in this project.

This year, the total number of recruits is 80,000, and the eligibility for participation is expanded to include workers of social welfare corporations and non-profit private organizations. In particular, small business owners and SMEs located outside the metropolitan area will be given preferential treatment during selection. Participating companies will be issued participation certificates and receive additional points or recognition during government certification applications and evaluations, along with various support benefits. Outstanding participating companies will be awarded the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award, among others.

Applications for participation are accepted on a company basis through the Worker Vacation Support Project website. The selection of participating companies and workers will take place in early March. Afterward, selected companies and workers must accumulate funds by the end of March, and from April until February of the following year, they can purchase accommodations, transportation, domestic travel products, and tourist attraction tickets through the project’s dedicated online mall.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official stated, "The satisfaction level of workers who have participated in this project is high," and added, "We plan to promote not only financial support but also various measures to improve vacation culture."