ProtoVille prototypes the next social protocol at the intersection of rural basic income and global collaboration. A proto-village to co-create and experiment the next chapter of sustainable community life.
Prototyping
Rural Futures
Dumo Village, Namhae, South Korea
April 2 - 8, 2026
Farmfra: The Self-reliant Village
Farmfra is the 'Infrastructure for Farm Fantasy Life' based in Dumo. We provide a space to test self-sufficient living—from modular, mobile homes built by our community to a permaculture garden. It is a home for co-living and co-working, designed for those running their own experiments outside of traditional city systems.
Dumo: A History of Collective Grit
Dumo Village was shaped by its rugged terrain and a culture of working together. Tucked behind the mountains of Ang-gang (앵강) Bay, it served as a natural refuge during wartime. This spirit of mutual aid—treating every neighbor as family—is what turned rocky hills into the village's signature terraced rice paddies. Today, Dumo is known for its Grade-1 mountain streams and the canola fields that bloom every spring.
Namhae: Deep Nature
Part of Hallyeohaesang National Park, Namhae is an island where the blue horizon meets steep, vertical forests. It is a quiet, remote environment built for deep focus and clear thinking, far removed from the noise of the city.
Our Themes
Deep Nature
The hardware for deep work. The sea and mountains of Namhae provide the radical clarity required for high-bandwidth concentration. Disconnect from urban noise to focus on system design and the next social contract.
Co-creation
A shared build of narratives and community. We collaborate through social dining, workshops with local students, and nightly exchanges with fellow ProtoVillagers. Every activity is an opportunity to build a collective perspective on rural life alongside the Dumo community. We are active co-creators in this experiment, not consumers of a tour.
Coffee w/Locals (UBI-watching)
Theory ends where the field begins. We document the rural UBI pilot as it runs in Dumo and participate in a sharing session to exchange findings with the local UBI committee. Witness the friction between abstract policy and ground-truth reality.
Where is Dumo?
Accommodation & Co-Working
Farmfra Village
Seoul Farm
Week at a Glance
Local Activities
Photosynthesis
Dumo Village is located on the Namparang Trail. Start your day with a refreshing morning workout in a beautiful village with mountains, sea, fields, and streams.
Trail Running
Namhae hosts the 250km Trail Running event. Explore the beautiful coastal mountain trails!
Bird-watching
Namhae is a famous migratory bird site. Observe the birds with an experienced guide.
Social Dining
Enjoy meals cooked by a local chef with local ingredients. Great food always sparks great conversation.
Makgeolli Brewing
Learn to brew Korea's oldest alcoholic drink with a local brewery. Ferment your own batch of milky rice wine and take it home.
Cherry Blossoms
Have you heard of the Wangji Cherry Blossom Road in Seolcheon, right next to Dumo? Over 1,170 king cherry trees form a cherry blossom tunnel along the coastline. Don't miss the beauty of April!
Vibecoding Workshop
Join a vibecoding workshop at the Namhae Youth Center! New to vibecoding? Join as a student! Already know it? Join as a guide!
Coffee w/Locals
Chat with Namhae locals at the village hall, youth center, and local market. Learn how universal basic income is making an impact.
Pricing
Private
Shared (2 people)
2 Nights
$189
$119
6 Nights
$499
$289
✓ All prices are in USD
✓ This is a non-profit event. If we have any leftover budget, we will use it to form a treasury for the next UBI popup... so we can start IRL governance experiments too!
✓ What is included: Accommodation and Local Activities
Activities included in 2N3D: Trail Running and Social Dining
✓ Both Trail Running and Bird Watching includes a professional instructor
✓ We accept Crypto, KRW bank transfer, and Wise transfer. The payment link will be sent out individually
✓Ask in Telegram group chat about attending custom dates
FAQ
How do I get to Dumo?
1. From Seoul to Dumo (4.5hr)
1.1 From Seoul to Namhae
- Route: Seoul Nambu Terminal (서울남부터미널) → Namhae Public Terminal (남해공용터미널)
- Intervals: Every 1–2 hours
- Fare: Standard ~27,000 KRW / Premium ~40,700 KRW
- Booking: Tmoney Intercity Bus (Select "Seoul Nambu" and "Namhae")
1.2 From Namhae to Dumo
- Route: Take a local bus bound for 'Mijo/Sangju' (미조/상주) → Get off at 'Dumo' (두모) station.
- Line: Namhae – Sangju – Mijo line.
- Intervals: Every 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Note: Dumo Village is located at the bottom of a hill before reaching Sangju Beach. It is recommended to confirm the stop with the driver ("Dumo Maeul?") before boarding or getting off.
2. From Busan to Dumo (2hr)
2.1 From Busan to Namhae
- Route: Busan West (Sasang) Terminal (부산서부터미널/사상) → Namhae Public Terminal (남해공용터미널)
- Intervals: Every 1 hour
- Fare: approx. 15,000 KRW
- Booking: Bustago (Select "Busan Sasang" and "Namhae")
2.2 From Namhae to Dumo
- Route: Take a local bus bound for 'Mijo/Sangju' (미조/상주) → Get off at 'Dumo' (두모) station.
- Line: Namhae – Sangju – Mijo line.
- Intervals: Every 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Note: Dumo Village is located at the bottom of a hill before reaching Sangju Beach. It is recommended to confirm the stop with the driver ("Dumo Maeul?") before boarding or getting off.
What other activities can I do in Dumo?
Dumo has a beautiful beach, a golden mountain, a river stream with one of the cleanest water in the peninsula, terraced rice paddies, and the tranquility of the night sky.
Popular activities include: camping, trekking, hiking, clam-picking in the mud field (and making seafood noodles afterwards), kayaking, and sightseeing like the old temple inside the mountain and the oldest national marine park.
Why South Korea, why Dumo, and why UBI as one of the main themes?
From Seoul's Negative Income Tax to Gyeonggi's massive Youth Basic Income, the nation is actively experimenting with UBI. Specifically, a two-year Rural UBI experiment is starting this year across 10 towns, including Dumo.
Will I receive UBI while I stay in Dumo?
No, UBI is only allocated to the registered residents in Dumo Village and the greater Namhae area. Our group is here to see how the residents make use of UBI and what impact it has.
I have my own accommodation in Dumo. Do I still need to pay the full price?
Not at all. If you want to come just for the coworking and BYOF community dinner, ProtoVille will not charge you anything. If you want to participate in local activities, ask in our group chat.
Can I attend custom dates? I want to stay for five days.
Yes! Ask in Telegram group chat about attending custom dates and quotes.
What kind of people are you looking to attract?
Those who vibe with our themes: the co-creators, the nature lovers, and those curious to see the potential impact of UBI in rural settings.
Who is behind ProtoVille?
Rei
Born and raised in South Korea, polished in a crypto hackerhouse. DAOist gone rogue. Interested in the North East Asian version of Network Societies. Building Local Nomad, writing Far East of Eden
IntrepidXBT
Canadian slowmad, spending most of their time in North East Asia. Builds projects and works with partners that enhance global mobility and remote work in the region, under the brand NTRPD.
Dylan
Longevity enthusiast, working in the policy space. Making educational content w/LongX, policy work w/A4LI and measuring public opinion w/the Lifespan Research Institute. Looking to build a Korean longevity ecosystem.
Is ProtoVille family friendly?
The village welcomes everyone, but the coliving facility that the popup is renting is modular & mobile housing and may not be the best option for a family. But don't worry! There is a campsite right next to the village and lots of nice Airbnbs! Four legged friends are welcome to join the program, but not the coliving space.
Can I get a refund?
- 100% refund — until 14 days before the event (end of March 18, KST)
- 50% refund — until 3 days before (end of March 29, KST)
- No refund — within 3 days of the event (after March 29, KST)
- Refund for accommodation will follow the host's policy. Check it out with FarmFra
- Refunds do not include credit card processing fees