South Korean firms explore shift to virtual offices
- Claire Lee
Some firms in South Korea are taking up virtual office spaces, instead of physical ones.
For instance, startup company Zigbang has launched a virtual office programme, called Soma, where up to 3,000 employees can network virtually. Over 2,000 people work inside its PropTech Tower, a 30-story building that is leased to 20 global and domestic firms.
Users can work in the same virtual office with their colleagues, mingle with other workers from other firms in the shared lounge, and take a virtual stroll by the deck.
“[Working inside Soma] is basically like meeting in the real world, but actually virtual. So there’s the convenience of being far apart but still being together,” David Kim, Business development manager of Soma, told ABC News.
Other tech firms like Meta and Microsoft are also working on a metaverse for the future workspace, utilising tech like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality.
READ: Majority of South Koreans want to prolong working life
“A company based in the metaverse dramatically reduces the carbon footprint of a workplace that may include everything from transportation used during the commute to work to office supplies like pen and paper in everyday office life,” Minjo Chun, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment’s global media spokesperson told ABC News.
