M
okpo, on the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula, is a world away from South Korea's bustling capital of Seoul.
Though historically a major transport and industrial hub, the port city of 230,000 people has lost much of its former prominence in recent years and is now dotted with numerous abandoned buildings.
Which made it the perfect location for 33-year-old entrepreneur Hong Dong-woo to start Don’t Worry Village – a home away from home for young Koreans exhausted by big-city living or looking for a place to figure out their next steps in life.
After moving to Mokpo in 2017, Hong started work on creating his youth community of the future – inspired by the people he had met while working as a “road-trip companion”.
Launched from an abandoned building in Mokpo that had been donated to the cause with no fee attached, the initiative soon acquired two additional spaces after winning funding from a government programme to redevelop old houses.
For a fee of just 200,000 won (US$172) each – which is refunded once the six-week course is completed – 30 people at a time can stay in Don’t Worry Village, resting, recuperating, networking and learning.