A recent survey conducted by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) highlights the reasons why South Korea is becoming a popular destination for foreigners seeking working holidays. The primary motivation, as reported, is the country’s positive image.
On September 25, the KTO released a report titled “K-Working Holiday: Why Choose South Korea?” This comprehensive analysis delves into the realities of the working holiday program in the country.
The KTO surveyed over 300 foreigners currently residing in South Korea or who had previously visited on working holiday visas. This survey took place from May 2 to May 14 and included both online questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The findings revealed that 15.4 percent of respondents cited South Korea’s positive image as the key reason for their choice, followed by a desire to immerse themselves in Korean culture (12.1 percent) and a perception of safety for foreigners (9.2 percent).
The working holiday program allows young individuals to stay in South Korea for a limited period while engaging in economic activities to support their travel expenses. Currently, South Korea has such agreements with 25 countries, including Australia, Canada, and Japan.
Historically, Japan has been the leading source of working holiday participants, contributing 34,656 individuals since the program’s inception in 2005. Other notable contributors include Taiwan (10,721), France (8,491), Hong Kong (4,609), and Germany (3,174).
Preparation for the working holiday is significant; 60.7 percent of respondents spent between three to six months preparing for their trip, and 46.2 percent intended to stay for over six months but less than nine.
During their stay, 43.3 percent of participants traveled extensively, averaging 5.64 trips, which included 3.4 day trips and 2.24 overnight excursions. The most popular day-trip destinations were Seoul (48.5 percent), Gyeonggi Province (27.7 percent), and Incheon (12.3 percent). For overnight stays, Busan led with 37.7 percent, followed by Jeju (17.3 percent) and North Gyeongsang Province (12.7 percent).
Interestingly, 22.6 percent of participants had visited South Korea prior to their working holiday, averaging 2.84 visits. The cultural elements that attracted them most included Korean cuisine (16.4 percent), music (12.5 percent), and dramas (12.1 percent).
Financially, 40.6 percent of working holiday participants earned between 1 million and 1.5 million won (approximately $753 to $1,129) monthly. Meanwhile, 33.2 percent earned between 1.5 million and 2 million won, and 18.3 percent earned between 500,000 and 1 million won. The average monthly expenditure for these participants was about 970,000 won, with housing expenses comprising the largest share at 33 percent of their income.
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