Image of Jeju Workation in articles of domestic daily papers

This study examines how “Jeju Workation” is represented in domestic daily newspapers amid the rise of remote work and workation cultures following the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, 50 articles explicitly referring to “Jeju Workation” were collected from 18 major newspapers published between December 2021 and April 2023, and analyzed through discourse analysis. The analysis focused on three perspectives: workers, local communities, and local governments, framing Jeju Workation respectively as a “platform for self-realization,” “a transition point for sustainable living,” and “a strategic brand.” s. These images move beyond simple depictions of landscapes or workplaces, operating as discursive devices of subject formation within Lacan’s framework of the Imaginary, the Symbolic, and the Real. They also highlight a potential gap between idealized media portrayals and the realities of labor. The study shows that Jeju Workation constructs new ways of life and a renewed sense of place, grounded in visual culture theory, which views images as socially constructed within systems of symbols and pow er.In conclusion, Jeju Workation emerges not as a fixed entity but as a cultural sign system where diverse perspectives and meanings intersect. By integrating visual culture theory with discourse analysis, this study provides a framework for understanding regional images as sites of social negotiation and cultural imaginati..