Jeju Island is set to implement a new remote working system specifically designed for young civil servants. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
JEJU, Feb. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – Jeju Island is set to implement a new remote working system specifically designed for young civil servants, particularly those belonging to the so-called MZ generation in their 20s and 30s.
This innovative work arrangement allows eligible employees to perform their duties from designated public facilities and national institutions, rather than traditional office settings.
Starting from next month, the “Another Office” system will be made available to civil servants affiliated with the Jeju Provincial Government and its direct agencies and offices ranked at Grade 6 and below.
The designated locations in Jeju City include the Jeju Communication Cooperation Center, Jeju Youth Center, Jeju Techno Park Energy Center, Halla Library, J-Space, Art Space IA, Jeju Content Korea Lab, and Jeju Urban Regeneration Support Center.
In Seogwipo City, the Jeju Convention Center and Youth Attic (Branches 2 and 3) will serve as remote workspaces.
Jeju Island is the first government body in the country to develop such a remote work structure. Interested civil servants of Grade 6 and below can apply to work from locations close to their homes or other convenient sites to carry out their regular tasks.
The island plans to select up to 24 employees each week to work from one of the six Another Office locations within a five-day workweek framework. It is anticipated that over 800 employees will have the opportunity to engage in remote work annually.
Employees will adhere to the local government’s work regulations and follow the guidelines for remote work operations, utilizing laptops equipped with necessary programs for electronic approvals and other work-related tasks.
A Jeju Island official expressed optimism about the new work arrangement, highlighting that employees working from Another Office locations will be exempt from handling tasks such as public consultations that are unrelated to their primary duties.
This is expected to improve the working environment and contribute to more efficient work execution.
An analysis of resignations among Jeju Island civil servants over the past five years (2019 to April 2023) revealed that 47 out of 63 resignees (excluding those from Jeju City and Seogwipo) had less than five years of service, accounting for 74.6%.
These early resignations were attributed to factors such as low salaries, rigid organizational cultures, and the challenges of dealing with public inquiries.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
