22.6 to 1 Competition Rate Recorded!...Gwanak-gu Nakseong Venture Startup Center Completes 2022 Tenant Company Recruitment

[Seoul District News] Gwanak-gu selects 8 companies out of 181 applicants after 1st document and 2nd presentation reviews, including 3 startups by Seoul National University professors, excelling in platforms, blockchain, and more... Yongsan-gu provides 500,000 KRW support per unemployed youth... Seongbuk-gu strongly recommends joining the One Book Promotion Team... Yangcheon-gu calls for public-private cooperation agenda projects

The selection process for tenant companies at Nakseong Venture Startup Center last February

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) announced that it has completed the selection of resident companies for 2022 at the Nakseong Venture Startup Center located at Nakseongdae-ro 2 within the Venture Business Promotion District.

The district selected a total of eight companies after screening. During the recruitment period for resident companies from January 18 to February 6, 181 companies applied, showing a high competition rate of 22.6 to 1, demonstrating the high external recognition of the 'Gwanak S Valley' creation project.

The recruitment targeted (pre-)entrepreneurs within seven years who possess highly original and promising technology or ideas. The district finally selected excellent companies from various fields including platform, blockchain, and social ventures, including three startups founded by Seoul National University professors such as 'Riflex Science' (CEO Andong Soon), which develops RNA-based treatments for degenerative osteoarthritis.

The selected companies can use office spaces at the main branch of the Nakseong Venture Startup Center and the Nakseong Venture Startup Center Nakseongdae-dong Community Service Center branch for one year at a low rent.

They will receive various startup support programs linked with the district and Seoul National University, such as expert mentoring, IR capability enhancement programs for investment attraction, commercialization support programs, match points for recruiting talent, and market research support programs. Companies with outstanding performance may receive the benefit of extending their residency for one more year through screening.

Additionally, on January 10, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups designated the 'Gwanak S Valley' area around Nakseongdae-dong and Daehak-dong as a Venture Business Promotion District. Venture companies residing here receive various benefits such as a 37.5% reduction in property tax and acquisition tax, exemption from development charges, traffic inducement charges, and other fees.

Furthermore, to expand investment attraction opportunities for local venture and startup companies, the district plans to hold a total of six regular Gwanak S Valley Demo Days independently from June 8 to December in the Nakseong Venture Valley and Sillim Startup Valley areas.

Including events hosted by related organizations such as the Nakseong Venture Startup Center, Seoul National University Campus Town, and Seoul Startup Center Gwanak, a total of 15 Demo Days are expected to be held, providing companies located in Gwanak-gu with various opportunities for corporate promotion and investment attraction.

The district also plans to support technological development of venture and startup companies through projects such as technology consulting support and startup scale-up projects, driving innovative growth of companies and supporting initial startup costs to prevent promising startups from giving up due to lack of funds.

A district official said, "Through the selection of resident companies at the Nakseong Venture Startup Center, we expect a virtuous cycle of revitalizing the startup ecosystem in Gwanak-gu and increasing local employment by utilizing excellent human resources from Seoul National University." He added, "We will take the lead in fostering excellent companies in Gwanak-gu by linking with related organizations such as Seoul National University Campus Town, DigiCo KT Open Lab, KB Innovation Hub, Woori Financial Dino Lab, and Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation."

Growth-hyeon Seong, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, visiting the store of Lee Sang-du, who started a business in Itaewon last November

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Chang-hyun) will provide employment incentives of 500,000 KRW per unemployed youth facing difficulties in job searching.

Applications for the employment incentive can be made on the Seoul Youth Portal from April 14 to May 31.

The support target is unemployed or jobless youth (not enrolled in employment insurance) aged 19 to 34 (born 1987?2003) residing in Yongsan-gu, who graduated within two years (graduates from 2020 to 2022).

Those whose 'two years after graduation' period is exceeded due to military service will have their military service period (based on military service certificate) deducted when calculating the period.

Unlike last year, the support criteria have been relaxed to allow applicants who are also recipients of other programs such as Seoul City Youth Allowance and National Employment Support System. Youth who received the employment incentive in 2021 but remain unemployed can reapply.

The employment incentive will be paid in the form of Yongsan Love Gift Certificates (mobile). Required documents include resident registration certificate, employment insurance qualification history, and final academic graduation certificate.

The district will review eligibility and sequentially distribute gift certificates from April. The gift certificates can be used at Zero Pay affiliated stores.

The support scale is about 1,000 people, double the 516 people supported in 2021, with a budget of 502.5 million KRW.

In addition, the district operates space provision and support projects for youth.

Youth Jium, opened near Yongsan Station in November 2020, is the largest youth space in Seoul (710㎡) equipped with a book lounge, healing room, mini cinema, etc. Usage is free.

Main support projects include job experience internship programs, employment support programs, expert training linked employment support, public-private cooperation job creation contest projects, and youth enterprise loans using the district's job fund.

Mayor Seong Chang-hyun of Yongsan-gu said, "According to statistics announced in May last year, the average period from graduation to employment is over 10 months. The district will be a reliable partner for youth during their job search and startup periods."

Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is recruiting the 2022 'Seongbuk-gu One Book Promotion Team (Selection Team)' (hereinafter One Book Promotion Team).

By becoming a member of the One Book Promotion Team, you can participate in the representative reading campaign of Seongbuk-gu, 'Seongbuk-gu One Book Reading,' for one year with priority. Other main benefits include ▲ priority participation in One Book-related events ▲ priority loan of One Book candidate books ▲ voting rights for Seongbuk-gu One Book. Additionally, you can pre-book or receive discounted prices for Seongbuk-gu Library events. You can also enjoy various library events such as meetings with authors exclusively for the One Book Promotion Team.

A Seongbuk-gu Library official said, "As citizen interest in the One Book Promotion Team continues, the participation benefits have diversified over the years. This year, we are preparing a meeting with influencer author Kim Gyeoul, who has long been active with Seongbuk-gu One Book Reading, to provide a special experience exclusive to the One Book Promotion Team."

Due to this background, interest in joining the One Book Promotion Team is high. The number of applicants exceeded 300 since recruitment began on the 2nd.

A resident who participated as a One Book Promotion Team member, Kim** (Seokgwan-dong, 52), said, "Being the main agent of the Seongbuk-gu One Book Reading project and selecting a book together allowed us to respect differences, understand generational gaps, and share sincere stories with neighbors through books, which was a very memorable experience. I hope more people will create these special memories together."

Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu emphasized, "Many residents felt that although physical distance increased due to COVID-19 daily life, the emotional distance became closer through reading one book together via Seongbuk-gu One Book Reading." He added, "We will strive to establish and spread this as a more beneficial reading campaign."

The One Book Promotion Team is open to anyone aged youth and above. You can apply by visiting the Seongbuk-gu Library website (sblib.seoul.kr) or any of the 15 public libraries throughout Seongbuk-gu. There is no fee.

The 'Seongbuk-gu One Book Reading' project is hosted and operated by the Seongbuk Cultural Foundation and Seongbuk-gu Library. Since 2020, it has expanded its activity space online, continuing the enthusiasm for reading safely during the COVID-19 situation through non-face-to-face reading discussions and YouTube meetings with authors.

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that it will publicly recruit proposals for the 'Your Idea Becomes Yangcheon Cooperation - Public-Private Cooperation Agenda Project' from March 11 to April 1.

Yangcheon-gu has contributed to the establishment of the regional social innovation plan and the activation of public-private cooperation by reflecting creative cooperative agenda proposals that solve local community problems together with residents and administration.

This year's application fields include ▲ welfare ▲ economy ▲ education ▲ culture ▲ environment ▲ safety ▲ youth ▲ others, totaling eight categories.

Additionally, the proposed agenda must meet ▲ public interest ▲ openness ▲ cooperation ▲ effectiveness ▲ and temporality (must be achievable within the project period of 2023).

Projects requiring more than two years, those infringing on rights acquired by others, or similar to already adopted proposals are excluded.

Applicants must be Yangcheon-gu residents or have major activities in Yangcheon-gu (workers, students, etc.). Interested parties can write proposals and submit them via email, visit the Resident Cooperation Division at the district office in person, or send by mail. Proposal forms can be found on the district office website's notices or public announcements board.

The district will select excellent agenda projects through feasibility review (first round) and public contest committee screening (second round) between April and May, awarding certificates and prizes to outstanding proposers.

The selected agenda projects will be promoted as Yangcheon-gu cooperative projects in 2023 through procedures such as public forums involving various residents and resolutions by the Yangcheon Cooperation Council.

Mayor Kim Soo-young of Yangcheon-gu said, "Through this contest, I hope to discover diverse agendas that satisfy residents' needs and gain broad consensus. We will continue to implement public-private cooperation throughout district administration to provide administrative services that satisfy residents."

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