Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Sung-sook announced on Sunday that the ministry will launch a "Project to Discover 10,000 Local Entrepreneurs" starting next year to create an environment where young people can start businesses locally without fear of failure and grow them into global enterprises.
Han made the remarks at the 5th Small Business Growth Relay Conference held at Dream Square in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
"Many young people are creating new opportunities by taking on entrepreneurial challenges in local communities," Han said, as she toured products from young small business owners based at Dream Square, a space dedicated to small business education and incubation, and listened to their feedback.
At a briefing on the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' 2026 work plan held at the Sejong Government Complex on December 17, Han had announced key policy directions including "discovering 10,000 local entrepreneurs annually and nurturing 1,000 local enterprises per year."
The conference was the fifth session of "Small Business Growth Relay Conference Season 2," which has been running since last month.
Professor Kim Si-yeol of Jeonju University delivered a keynote speech titled "A New Perspective on Local Entrepreneurship and Its Importance," explaining that youth entrepreneurship in local areas can lead to regional job creation and sustainable local economies. He emphasized that regional universities can serve as platforms for cultivating young local entrepreneurs.
During the case study presentations, young entrepreneurs from regions including Wonju and Cheongju shared their experiences building brands based on local resources and their own stories.
Moon Ji-yeon, CEO of Kke Roastery Okhee Bangangan, which operates a perilla seed roastery in Gangwon Province; Cho Yun-sik, CEO of Pobangter Jjukkumi, who grew from running a spicy octopus restaurant at Pobangter Market in Seoul to a multi-purpose sauce manufacturing company; and Lee Ji-eun, CEO of Yukgeori Famous Mandu, who exports vegan and low-sugar dumplings made at Yukgeori Traditional Market in Cheongju to the United States and Australia, shared how they expanded their businesses through online distribution and overseas market entry.
During the open discussion, participants shared difficulties and lessons learned during the local entrepreneurship process, as well as strategies for overcoming challenges. Policy proposals and field opinions for sustainable growth were also discussed, including branding utilizing local resources and identity, product and service innovation, and strategies for global expansion.
