Busan Citizens Enter Era of Commuting to Japanese Vacation Spots

Park Hyung-joon, Mayor of Busan, Discusses "Remote Work at Vacation Spots" with Wakayama Prefecture
Leading Cooperation on Workation Culture Between the Two Regions... Exploring Measures to Boost Tourism

Busan City and Wakayama Prefecture in Japan have embarked on exchange and cooperation projects between the two cities, including the development of a unique "tourism business" involving remote work at vacation spots.

Busan City (Mayor Park Hyung-joon) announced on the 11th that on the 10th at 3 p.m., Mayor Park Hyung-joon met with Wakayama Prefecture Governor Kishimoto Shuhei and Yamashita Naoya, Chairman of the Korea-Japan Friendship Wakayama Prefectural Assembly Members' Federation, along with a delegation, at the City Hall International Protocol Room to discuss mutual exchange and cooperation measures between Busan and Wakayama Prefecture.

The visit by the Wakayama Prefecture delegation was arranged to discuss multifaceted plans to activate exchange and cooperation between the two regions as exchanges between Busan and Japan continue to increase.

The delegation consisted of a total of 14 members, including the Wakayama Prefecture Governor, the Chairman of the Korea-Japan Friendship Wakayama Prefectural Assembly Members' Federation, three assembly members, and nine working-level officials.

Mayor Park said, "Wakayama Prefecture is known as a holy place for so-called 'workation,' remote work at vacation spots, and we aim to activate exchanges in related fields."

Earlier, in September 2023, Busan City and Wakayama Prefecture signed an agreement to promote workation culture. Since then, they have been sharing best practices and strengthening cooperation.

Mayor Park emphasized, "Wakayama and Busan share similar landscapes as cities with seas, rivers, and mountains," adding, "I hope the workation culture in both cities will be activated to create new businesses and sustain active cultural exchanges."

Governor Kishimoto Shuhei of Wakayama Prefecture responded, "Since signing the workation promotion agreement, Wakayama has been striving to enhance friendship and exchange between the two regions," and added, "We will make efforts to ensure that citizens of Busan can visit Wakayama comfortably."

Mayor Park also stated, "Historically, Busan has been the gateway for promoting exchange and cooperation with Japan in South Korea," and said, "We will work to make Busan a global hub city and strengthen cooperation with various Japanese cities, and let us work together to revitalize tourism such as workation between Busan and Wakayama Prefecture."

Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan, and Shuhei Kishimoto, Governor of Wakayama Prefecture, along with officials from the two cities, are discussing measures to promote workation at Busan City Hall at 3 p.m. on the 10th.