During the Community Canvas workshop in 2020, we had the ambitious idea of organizing a retreat for the Seoul Startups community members in 2021. We would go to Jeju island to spend the days enjoying a wide array of outdoor activities, while spending the evenings organizing startup-related workshops and discussions on founders’ wellbeing. A founders’ retreat with a dash of ‘Burning Man’.
Alas, despite everyone’s expectations, COVID-19 has remained a constant in our lives. With gatherings over 5 people prohibited, alongside other restrictions preventing organizing our dream retreat - we had to go back to the drawing board, and think of another way to treat our community.
In the end, we decided that since we cannot take our community members to Jeju - we would bring Jeju to the Seoul Startups community. And hence, the plan was born for the Community Leaders (and a few active contributors) to spend 3 weeks in Jeju, discovering not only it’s nature and entertainment lifestyle, but also it’s startup ecosystem and digital nomad infrastructure.
We came with very little expectations and even less knowledge of Jeju beyond the tourist paradise. What we discovered was a vibrant community, with some promising initiatives that could be very attractive both for entrepreneurs and remote workers. We don’t pass comparisons easily, but Jeju has a chance to become the Chiang Mai or Bali of North East Asia.
We are excited for Jeju. And we want you to be excited with us. That’s why we are sharing our 3-week adventures’ reflections.
Enjoy!
Seoul Startups Community Leaders
Challenges & Seoul Startups recommendations
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