Work by the Sea and Unwind on the Beach at "Sehwa Jilgeuraengi"

Transforming an Underused Welfare Town into a Community Hub
Sehwa Village Cooperative Founded by Residents
Revitalizing the Local Economy through Workation

At the easternmost tip of Jeju Island lies the slender village of Sehwa, home to the "Sehwa Jilgeuraengi Workation Center," a place where people from the mainland come to work. In this small village of 2,600 residents, about 500 office workers visited last year alone for workation-a blend of work and vacation. During the day, they work while gazing at the sea, and in the evening, they relax on the beach, enjoying the ocean view. On weekends, they can walk along the oreum (volcanic hills) and participate in meditation or yoga experiences. This is what defines "Sehwa Village."

Office view of Sehwa Workation Center.

On the 5th, we visited the Sehwa Jilgeuraengi Workation Center, located in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City. The workation center sits at the far left end of Sehwa Beach. Although it is the village's main building, it had become a headache as residents rarely used it, so the community came together to transform the underutilized welfare town into a workation center.

Yang Gunmo, the village PD of Sehwa Village Cooperative, which operates the Sehwa Jilgeuraengi Workation Center, explained, "In 2015, as the village community gradually weakened, gatherings became less frequent, and the main buildings were left idle, the residents themselves stepped up to change the village. That's how the Sehwa Village Cooperative was born. With external consulting to revive the community and selection for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Rural Center Revitalization Project in 2015, the village began to unite."

Yang Gunmo, the village PD of Sehwa Village Cooperative, which operates the Sehwa Jilgeuraengi Workation Center, is explaining the workation center on the 4th. (Photo by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Joint Press Corps)

Sehwa Village formed expert task forces in various fields, composed of both locals and newcomers, to proactively lead village projects. One hundred people, from elementary students to seniors, gathered to brainstorm ideas, and 477 residents came together to establish the Sehwa Village Cooperative for systematic profit-making ventures.

The Sehwa Village Cooperative was launched in January 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They carried out a six-month remodeling of the welfare town, and from 2022, began full-scale operations in cafes, accommodations, experiences, and local food businesses.

Yang said, "Because Sehwa Village is a height-restricted area (20 meters), there are no resorts or hotels, so visitors rarely stayed overnight. To encourage spending in the village, we needed to make them stay. Now, thanks to the Sehwa Jilgeuraengi Workation Center, more than 500 people visited last year alone to work, relax, and contribute to the local economy."

Office workers who visit the workation center can work while looking at the sea during the day, and in the evening, relax on the beach with a beer and music. On weekends, they can walk along the nearby Darangshi Oreum, participate in meditation, tea ceremonies, and yoga, experience diving with Jeju's haenyeo-recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage-and stroll around the village with locals. The cooperative also operates "Sehwa Stay," a 4-day, 3-night program where participants become Sehwa residents, helping with tasks like weeding carrot fields or picking kiwis.

Participants of Haenyeo Stay (diving experience) operated by Sehwa Village Cooperative are taking a commemorative photo. (Photo by Sehwa Village Cooperative)

To address the shortage of accommodations, the village utilizes local pension guest rooms, collaborating with local pension operators to run a "village hotel." Currently, 10 pensions with 48 rooms are available for office workers visiting Sehwa Village for workation.

As more people visit Sehwa Village for workation, it is also boosting the local economy. Yang said, "Workation is about building connections-people spend money in the village, and eventually, the village and companies can create synergy. We estimate that workation visitors spend about 450,000 to 500,000 won per week, with around 20 people visiting each week, resulting in weekly spending of 8 to 10 million won."