The Ministry of Justice formally introduced the Digital Nomad (Workation) Visa as a permanent programme on 30 June 2026, following a pilot that ran from January 2024 through May 2026. During the pilot, 743 foreigners received the visa, while 398 registered foreign residents held it in May 2026. The figures show an established base of long-stay visitors combining remote employment with travel around South Korea.
The permanent programme also changes the length of stay. Eligible digital nomads can now remain in South Korea for up to three years, compared with the previous maximum of two years. The change gives remote professionals more time to experience different destinations rather than concentrating travel around a short holiday.
The visa is designed for overseas business owners and employees of international companies who can work remotely and have worked in the same industry for at least one year. Applicants must meet income requirements and hold medical insurance covering treatment and repatriation. The revised system also provides lower income thresholds for some younger applicants and for those choosing non-metropolitan or population-decline areas.
Seoul becomes a long-stay starting point
For many digital nomads, Seoul provides the most direct introduction to South Korea. The capital combines major transport connections with neighbourhoods that offer accommodation, restaurants, cafés, shopping, museums and cultural attractions within easy reach.
A longer stay allows visitors to move beyond the busiest central districts. Areas such as Bukchon, Insadong, Myeongdong, Hongdae and Euljiro provide different experiences, from traditional architecture and markets to contemporary food, nightlife and design. The city’s public transport network also makes it practical to plan day trips and multi-day journeys beyond the capital.
Travellers can use Seoul as a base while exploring historic palaces, traditional markets, riverfront areas and nearby mountains. The extended visa period makes it possible to divide travel into several shorter trips rather than completing the country in one holiday.
Busan adds coastal travel to the workation mix
Busan offers a contrasting destination for remote workers seeking a coastal setting. South Korea’s second-largest city combines beaches, waterfront districts, seafood markets, cultural neighbourhoods and mountain scenery.
Haeundae and Gwangalli are among the city’s best-known coastal areas, while Gamcheon Culture Village and Jagalchi Market add cultural and culinary stops. Haedong Yonggungsa provides another travel option, with a temple setting beside the sea.
For digital nomads, Busan can become a separate base rather than simply a weekend destination from Seoul. Its rail and air connections also support onward travel to other parts of the country.
Jeju brings nature into longer South Korea stays
Jeju Island offers a different side of the destination, centred on volcanic landscapes, coastlines, waterfalls, hiking routes and smaller communities. Visitors can explore Hallasan National Park, Seongsan Ilchulbong, coastal roads and the island’s lava formations while maintaining a longer-term base.
Jeju is particularly suited to travellers who want to combine work periods with outdoor travel. The island allows visitors to build shorter excursions around beaches, trails, villages and scenic viewpoints.
Visa and entry rules remain important for international travellers. Jeju has separate visa-free entry arrangements for some nationalities arriving directly from overseas, while eligibility conditions and K-ETA requirements can vary.
Regional destinations gain a bigger tourism role
The permanent visa also places greater attention on destinations outside the Seoul metropolitan area. The revised income rules specifically support eligible younger applicants and digital nomads who choose non-metropolitan or designated population-decline areas.
That creates opportunities for longer stays in Gangneung, Jeonju, Gyeongju and other regional destinations. Gangneung offers beaches, cafés and access to eastern-coast scenery. Jeonju is known for its traditional village and food culture, while Gyeongju provides historic sites linked to the Silla period.
Instead of treating these places as brief stops, long-stay visitors can spend weeks exploring local markets, cultural attractions, food districts, walking routes and surrounding countryside.
A new travel rhythm for South Korea
The F-1-D visa changes how South Korea can be experienced by eligible remote workers. A conventional holiday may concentrate Seoul, Busan or Jeju into a tightly scheduled itinerary. A stay lasting months or potentially years allows travellers to return to destinations in different seasons, explore less-visited regions and spread travel across multiple journeys.
For South Korea tourism, the programme creates a framework in which accommodation, transport, dining, attractions and local experiences can become part of a longer travel pattern. With the visa now permanently established and regional eligibility rules expanded, South Korea is positioning digital nomads as long-stay visitors able to combine international remote work with sustained exploration of the country.
