Get Up to 100,000 Won for Island Travel Next Month: How to Apply

[Anchor]

It is time for Friendly Economy on Tuesday, and reporter Han Jiyeon is here with us. Han, we are talking about travel today.

[Reporter]

The government is offering up to 100,000 won per team to people traveling to islands from next month until November 4.

This will likely be welcome news for those who love to travel.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has designated this year as the Year of Visiting Islands and is supporting island travelers.

This is not the first time.

The government ran a first round back in July and August, and thanks to a positive response, it is now holding a second round.

In particular, this round is timed to coincide with the World Island Expo currently being held in Yeosu.

The support period runs from the 1st of next month to November 4.

The conditions are as follows.

Travelers must stay at least one night on an eligible island that is not connected to the mainland by a bridge and can only be reached by ferry.

Actual expenses will be recognized, including lodging, meals, ferry fares, and even groceries bought on the island.

Travelers can receive up to 100,000 won per team.

Since it is called a team, some might wonder if traveling in a large group is required.

Solo travelers can also apply as a one-person team.

It is quite a useful benefit for those taking a short island trip.

[Anchor]

Can people receive this by visiting Jeju Island or any other island?

[Reporter]

Applicants must first apply.

Pre-applications can be submitted from 10:00 a.m. today until 6:00 p.m. on the 21st of this month.

Applications can be made on the official 2026 Year of Visiting Islands website.

The address is visitisland.kr, as shown below.

However, applicants must check which islands are eligible on the website before applying.

If applicants exceed the support capacity, recipients will be selected through a lottery, and selected individuals will be notified separately by text message.

One important thing to remember here is this.

Money is not given immediately upon application.

After being selected, travelers must actually visit an island between October 1 and November 4.

They must submit supporting documents such as round-trip ferry tickets and receipts, and after a verification process, they will receive up to 100,000 won per team.

As a side note, residents living outside Yeosu who visit islands in Yeosu from this month through December can receive a separate benefit covering 50 percent of their ferry fares.

Details can be found on the Korea Shipping Association reservation website.

[Anchor]

Lastly, paying fees just to view houses has become a major controversy lately.

[Reporter]

The Korea Association of Realtors has brought up a plan to charge fees for touring houses, causing fierce controversy.

Visiting and inspecting properties intended for purchase or lease in person is called imjang.

The term means heading directly to the field.

Lately, imjang crews, where people in their 20s and 30s tour houses in groups, have been trending.

They go around viewing houses together as if studying real estate.

The association argues that an increasing number of people visit simply out of curiosity or for study purposes without any actual intent to make a transaction, leading to unpaid labor and wasted time.

As a result, the Korea Association of Realtors stated during a recent press conference that it will push for a basic imjang fee system again.

The method works as follows.

Although specific amounts have not been finalized yet, travelers would pay an imjang fee in advance, for instance, 20,000 won.

If a transaction is successfully concluded, the previously paid imjang fee is deducted from the brokerage commission.

If no transaction is made, the imjang fee is not refunded, but if a deal is finalized, the imjang fee is not added separately.

Consumers are pushing back against the plan.

When purchasing a 1 billion won home in Seoul, the upper limit for the brokerage commission is 5 million won.

Consumers protest that the burden of brokerage commissions is already heavy, and now they are being asked to pay money starting from the house-viewing stage before even making a contract.

Above all, under current law, there is no clear legal basis to charge separate fees for general house-guiding services.

Brokerage commissions are received in principle when a transaction is completed.

Funds that can be collected separately outside of brokerage commissions are strictly limited by law to actual expenses incurred, such as issuing a registry copy to verify whether the seller is the true owner and checking how much debt is tied to the property.

Therefore, for an imjang fee to be genuinely institutionalized, legal and institutional discussions are necessary regarding which specific costs can be charged.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.