Since the beginning of COVID-19, many changes have been made not only in our daily lives but also in our work environment. Specifically, telecommuting has become more commonplace within company work culture. In the midst of COVID-19, a new company experience called ‘workation’ emerged. Workation, a composite of ‘work’ and ‘vacation,’ means working while being on a vacation.
CJ ENM has also created a new work environment for its employees by introducing the workation program. Learn about the CJ ENM’s workation office where employees can heal and immerse themselves in their work while surrounded by breathtaking nature.
Living on Jeju Island for a Month: CJ ENM’s Workation Office
The CJ ENM Jeju branch is located on Woljeong-ri beach, one of the most popular places on Jeju Island, an island off the coast of mainland South Korea. CJ ENM’s Jeju branch officially opened in October of last year. CJ ENM’s workation program selects 10 employees every month and gives them the chance to live and work on Jeju Island for a month.
In order to learn more about the Jeju Branch, CJ Newsroom interviewed Seungwoong Moon of CJ ENM’s Digital Content Influencer Commerce team on his experience using the company’s workation program.
Q. What brought you to CJ ENM’s Jeju branch?
Seungwoong Moon: Until now, I had used to working in the same surroundings day by day. However, I learned about CJ ENM’s workation benefit and thought it would be nice to live on Jeju Island for a month while working. So, I thought I should go.
As soon as I arrived at the CJ ENM Jeju branch, I was excited because I could enjoy my work while looking at the beautiful scenery of Jeju, including the sea and the mountains.
An Expansive Ocean View: The Work Environment of the CJ ENM Jeju Branch
Q. What are the special features of CJ ENM’s Jeju branch?
Moon: With the ocean view and picturesque scenery, you can appreciate nature while working. Personally, working at CJ ENM’s Jeju branch was better than working from home in Seoul. This is because the IT infrastructure is set up well and the office has all the necessary equipment, including multifunctional machines, so it’s very convenient.
How To Get the Most Out of Workation
Q. Did you learn anything new while on Jeju Island?
Moon: I wanted to sell traditional liquor or food that uses local ingredients. I was thinking that it would be nice to make some products that can contribute to the local economy since I was working on connecting commerce and the content industry. After going back to Seoul, I believe that I will be able to develop new project based on these insights.
Q. What activities do you usually do after work?
Moon: There are endless activities you can do on Jeju Island. In particular, you can enjoy various outdoor activities after work by the sea. I am afraid of water, but when I came to Jeju Island, I started learning activities, such as paddle boarding and surfing, to challenge myself.
Q. Did you get closer to your colleagues through these experiences?
Moon: Because we are in a new working environment, we rely on each other during the period. I had limited information about other colleagues and their duties, but now I can interact closely with them, learn about the other teams and find out how I can collaborate with them.
Q. Since your time in Jeju is coming to an end, how was the Workation experience for you?
Moon: I was able to meet new people and gain inspiration from the environment around me. There are so many things I learned on Jeju Island. Spending a month on Jeju helped me recover and grow. Since there are many things to enjoy after work as well as on the weekends, I was able to refresh myself as I work. I have also grown up more by living in a new environment for the first time.
Seungwoong Moon was able to explain the benefits of the workation program. The program can not only improve work efficiency but can also provide opportunities to recharge by giving employees the chance to live in a new area. In fact, experts predict that the workation program will expand to other companies around the world in the future. Going forward, CJ plans to continue expanding the workation program, which has a positive impact on both employees and the company.
