Seoul is one of the biggest megacities in the world and about 25 million people – roughly half of Korea’s population – live in the wider Seoul Capital Area. According to Statistics Korea, in 2020, the average commuting time of Koreans was 62 minutes, more than two times longer than the OECD average.

Traffic congestion during peak commuting times is extremely serious in Seoul, causing people both mental and physical stress, negatively affecting their quality of life. Moreover, costs associated with commuting not only affects individuals, but also incurs diverse social costs like air pollution and traffic congestion.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought drastic changes to the world of work as companies rushed to shift to remote work. The number of employees working remotely increased 12-fold, from 95,000 in 2019 to over 1.14 million in 2021. As working from home becomes a natural part of our lives, many expect remote work to remain in place even after the pandemic.

Sphere: Closing the gap between work from home and in-office

SKT was one of the first and most prepared companies to introduce remote work during the pandemic. Under its ‘Work from Anywhere’ policy, employees working from home increased from 1.8% in January 2020 (prior to the COVID-19 outbreak) to 47.9% in 2021.

To further innovate its work environment, SKT is operating intelligent near-home offices (named ‘Sphere’) that combine the strengths of working from home and working from office.

Instead of having to go through a long commute to the head office, employees can enjoy a short walk or bike ride to the nearest near-home office, where they can concentrate on their work and collaborate with colleagues.

Built with the latest technologies, the Sphere offices create a workplace environment designed to enhance the level of employee convenience, work engagement and productivity. They provide full 5G connectivity, and a high level of security through the application of quantum cryptography technology. Moreover, an AI-based facial recognition solution has been applied to enable employees to enter the office, choose their seats, and access the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

The Sphere offices meet the varying needs of employees and the characteristics of their work by offering many different spaces such as rooms for video conferencing and virtual meetings.

Reaching a new level of employee happiness

By taking ‘Work from Anywhere’ to the next level, SKT is providing autonomy to employees and empowering them to have greater control over their work and lives.

“Sphere is bringing positive changes to my life. It is only a 10-minute walk away from my home, and the fact that I could avoid the rush-hour traffic was a liberating experience. There, I can fully concentrate on my work without being disturbed.” – Moon Sung-young, Corporate Strategy Team, SKT

“Having a Sphere office in my neighborhood means that I can work out and spend more time with my children. It is also great that I can meet and work together with my colleagues without having to go to the head office.” – Lee Joo-hyun, Distribution IMC Team, SKT

SKT is currently building more Sphere offices reflecting new ideas and approaches, including one that combines the concept of ‘work’ and ‘vacation.’

Believing that innovative work culture is what drives a company to success, SKT will continue to create a smarter and happier environment that motivates employees to achieve higher goals.