Additional Selection of Baeknyeon Gage and Baeknyeon Sogongin Including Bugangok and Dopyeongyo

88 Businesses Selected as 2021 First Batch of Baeknyeon Gage and 69 as Baeknyeon Sogongin

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] On the 28th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups selected an additional 88 Baeknyeon Gage (Century-old Stores) and 69 Baeknyeon Sogongin (Century-old Artisans) to spread the success models of long-established small business owners. As a result, the total number of Baeknyeon Gage nationwide increased to 812, and Baeknyeon Sogongin to 413.

'Baeknyeon Gage' refers to small business owners and SMEs who sustain and develop their unique businesses over a long period through management secrets for continuous survival such as focused management and single-minded dedication. 'Baeknyeon Sogongin' refers to excellent artisans based on skilled techniques who practice sustainable management in one field with craftsmanship spirit.

The newly selected Baeknyeon Gage attract attention as they have succeeded family businesses in various fields such as restaurants, beauty salons, traditional tea houses, and musical instrument shops.

'Bugangok,' located in Bugang-myeon, Sejong, is a sundae gukbap (Korean blood sausage soup) specialty restaurant that has been passed down for three generations. It has registered the 'Bugangok' trademark and filed a patent for sundae manufacturing technology, and plans to automate the sundae factory for online sales in the future.

'Moon Mi-young Hair Collection,' located in Seo-gu, Gwangju, has been in the beauty industry for 50 years. It is a beauty salon operated by CEO Moon Mi-young, who was selected as a New Intellectual by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and continuously conducts research and development on natural grain dyeing materials.

'Gyodong Dawon,' located in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, opened in 1999 by restoring an old hanok (traditional Korean house) over 100 years old to its original form as much as possible. It is run by the second generation and is established as a representative traditional tea house in Jeonju Hanok Village.

'Hyeon Eum Musical Instruments,' located in Jung-gu, Busan, has been repairing, manufacturing, and selling musical instruments for 40 years. The entire family has completed professional technical training and attends overseas musical instrument fairs, striving to maintain the legacy of the musical instrument business.

The Baeknyeon Sogongin selected include artisans in various fields who manufacture traditional white porcelain, furniture, and hanji (traditional Korean paper).

'Dopyeongyo,' located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, was established in 1976 by ceramic master Han Il-sang and operates as a white porcelain research institute that continues the royal Joseon white porcelain tradition, also focusing on nurturing junior potters.

'Gojun Jangseok,' located in Jinju, Gyeongnam, is run by Jeong Tae-gyo, a holder of the intangible cultural asset for stone inlay craft, who has specialized in making traditional furniture inlays for 22 years and operates a stone inlay training center to promote the succession and development of the technique.

'Hongik Furniture Craft,' located in Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk, is operated by So Byung-jin, Korea’s first master craftsman in furniture making, who has been producing traditional wooden furniture for 29 years and holds 32 patents, trademarks, and design registrations.

'Yongin Hanji,' located in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, is run by Kim In-su, designated as a Jeonju Hanji master in 2017, who has been producing hanji for cultural heritage restoration and preservation for 22 years, striving to preserve traditional hanji.

The selected Baeknyeon Gage and Baeknyeon Sogongin can apply to participate in the newly established 'Baeknyeon Gage and Baeknyeon Sogongin Growth Support Project' this year. If selected, they can receive support to improve aging business environments and online sales channels to respond to the non-face-to-face economy.

Gil-dong, head of the regional commercial district division at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "In the severe management difficulties following COVID-19, spreading the success models of Baeknyeon Gage and Baeknyeon Sogongin, who continue operations with long experience and know-how, is more important than ever. We will strengthen support for live commerce and subscription economy activation as the online non-face-to-face economy expands, and also work to share and spread achievements through the National Association of Baeknyeon Gage and others."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.