The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization said on the 27th that they will open additional applications for the Worker Vacation Support Program (Half-Price Vacation) and expand the scale of support from 100,000 to 145,000 participants. The move aims to revive travel demand dampened by high fuel prices and boost regional tourism spending.
The additional recruitment totals 45,000 people, covering 35,000 workers at small and medium-sized enterprises and 10,000 at mid-sized firms. Applications from participating companies open the same day.
Support for workers in non-capital regions will also be strengthened. Participants employed at companies based in provincial areas will receive an additional 20,000 won on top of the existing subsidy, for a total of 420,000 won in vacation funding. The top-up will be retroactively applied to existing participants and can be used starting May 1.
The government will also promote consumption through transportation and lodging discounts. For one month beginning April 30, the "Zero Departure Burden" campaign will offer up to 30% (capped at 30,000 won) off bundled packages combining KTX high-speed rail, rental cars, and public transit. During the first-week holiday period in May, lodging discounts of up to 90,000 won and "Welcome Points" for new subscribers will be provided. The products are available through the dedicated online mall "Hyuga Shop."
Cooperative models with large corporations and public institutions will also be expanded. Under this scheme, major companies cover part of the vacation expenses for workers at their partner firms; CJ ONSTYLE recently funded vacation costs for 300 employees at its partner companies. The government plans to strengthen cooperation with related institutions to encourage more such participation.
The ministry expects the expansion to serve as a catalyst for a domestic demand recovery. Kang Jeong-won, director general for tourism policy, said, "Our goal is to swiftly execute the supplementary budget to quickly revive weakened domestic consumption and travel demand," adding, "By increasing benefits for provincial workers, we will ensure that spending flows through to local small businesses and regional economies."