"We Commute to an Island" Tongyeong Dumo Island, the Nation's First Island Telecommuting Starts

Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, attending the island telecommuting agreement ceremony.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Beyond working from home, island-based telecommuting has begun. The era of the so-called 'Island Smart Work Center' has arrived.

The first target location is Dumi-do Island in Tongyeong City, Gyeongnam Province. It is a fairly distant island about an hour away from Tongyeong Passenger Terminal.

However, since there is an undersea internet fiber optic line installed, it was noted that there is no problem at all with the current work environment that relies on computers. On the contrary, the advantage is that there is less unnecessary external interference, resulting in higher concentration and efficiency.

Preparation for island-based telecommuting began in January of this year through communication with the Small and Medium Business Corporation after Dumi-do was designated as a 'Desirable Island to Live On.'

Subsequently, through consultations with island residents, consensus was built, offices were prepared, accommodations arranged, work styles adjusted, and relationships with residents established in that order.

The office located in Buk-gu Village on Dumi-do is a remodeled building that had been abandoned for a long time. The second floor of the community center, which will be used as accommodation, is a space of about 33㎡ (10 pyeong) that was usually used by village visitors or as lodging for work teams.

Employees of the Small and Medium Business Corporation will work at the island office using a remote work system in teams or business units. They will work about three days a week through island-based telecommuting, that is, at this smart work center. In addition, small group seminars and task force teams requiring concentration are expected to use the facility.

The reason for taking the first step beyond working from home to island-based telecommuting was the recognition that the island is a place with sufficient utilization value, breaking away from the prejudice of being a remote area.

Also, the reuse of aging spaces on the island and contribution to village revitalization played a significant role. The island-based telecommuting office where employees will reside is receiving inquiries from other companies besides the Small and Medium Business Corporation, so island-based telecommuting is expected to expand.

The island residents are also welcoming the atmosphere. Go Sang-hoon, head of Buk-gu Village, who called it a 'double blessing for the island,' said, "Our village is an open village where many outsiders come and live as residents, so it seems like a double blessing like today has occurred," and added, "We will accept the office employees as island residents and make it a fun and lively island village."

On the afternoon of the 4th, a signing ceremony was held on Dumi-do to promise mutual support for smooth island-based telecommuting.

The four signatories?Kim Kyung-soo, Governor of Gyeongnam Province; Kang Seok-ju, Mayor of Tongyeong; Kim Hak-do, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation; and Go Sang-hoon, head of Buk-gu Village?pledged to engage in social contribution activities within the island region, build communities, and create sustainable islands through discovering unique values.

Governor Kim said, "Once the forest walking trail is fully developed on Dumi-do, more people from all over the country will visit," adding, "I hope facilities like the Small and Medium Business Corporation’s Smart Work Center will increase. While it is important to attract many tourists, above all, we will do our best to create a comfortable living environment for the island residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.