What Is the Secret Behind Gangnam Startup 'DeepingSource' and Two Other Companies Signing an NDA with Walmart US?

[Seoul District News] Gangnam-gu Completes 2nd 'Overseas Testbed Challenge in USA' with 11 Companies Conducting Tech Demonstrations... Moon Seok-jin, Seodaemun-gu Mayor, Wins Governance Local Politics Award at Sinchon Parang Whale
...Yongsan-gu Installs Smart Fire Alarm System at Huam Market

Startup DeepPingSource located in Gangnam-gu collaborates with a US advertising company for Times Square advertisement

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) successfully completed the 2nd program of the ‘Startup Overseas Testbed Challenge in USA,’ conducted in collaboration with the Korea International Trade Association and the Korea Venture Business Association last month.

Since 2020, the district has been promoting an overseas testbed project that matches domestic startups with major U.S. corporations and provides professional consulting. Last year, the 2nd cohort was recruited to support startups in innovative fields such as logistics, IT, AI security detection solutions, and plant-based alternative meat.

This year, 11 startups conducted 19 Proof of Concept (PoC) projects over two months, including internal system compatibility tests, with 11 U.S. companies such as Walmart and Simmons Foods. Among them, three companies signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) with large U.S. retail and IT firms and are currently discussing additional collaborative projects.

Kim Tae-hoon, CEO of ‘Dipping Sauce,’ a Gangnam-gu-based startup that signed an NDA with Walmart and TPS Engage, said, “We received attention in the fields of video data anonymization and AI utilization,” adding, “This opportunity allowed us to see the potential for expansion into new businesses such as outdoor advertising effectiveness analysis in New York’s Times Square.”

Jung Soon-gyun, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, stated, “Based on Gangnam’s solid infrastructure as the ‘Silicon Valley of Korea,’ we will spare no effort in supporting startups rooted in Gangnam to grow into the world’s top companies through various projects.”

Seodaemun-gu recently announced on the 17th that District Mayor Moon Seok-jin won the grand prize in the local government head category at the ‘2022 Governance Local Politics Awards Contest,’ hosted by the Governance Center and sponsored by the Korean Local Government Studies Association and the National Association of Mayors, Governors, and District Heads.

The award, launched in 2019 to discover and spread proper autonomous decentralization activities, is now in its fourth year. This year, out of a total of 193 submissions, winners were selected through first, second, third, and final rounds of judging based on governance implementation, achievement, innovation, and ripple effects.

Mayor Moon was selected as the grand prize winner in recognition of his active operation of a public-private governance system that gathered diverse opinions from local merchants and youth.

In particular, the governance administrative capability was highlighted by the steady communication not only with merchants and youth but also with existing senior citizens’ club members, which enabled the creation of ‘Sinchon, Parang Whale,’ a youth cultural community space.

At the awards ceremony held on the 16th at the Seoul Women’s Plaza, Mayor Moon expressed, “I will work harder to promote sincere communication and governance activation with various members of the local community to revitalize local culture and commercial districts.”

Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) is promoting the installation of smart fire alarm facilities at Huam Market to ensure the safety of traditional markets vulnerable to fire.

The district will install fire detectors and repeaters inside operating stores in Huam Market on the 18th and 19th (immediate installation in non-operating stores upon occupancy). The project budget is 40 million KRW, fully funded by the district.

The operating costs for the fire alarm facilities will be free for three years, after which the Huam Market Merchants’ Association will bear the costs. To prevent cost disputes, the maintenance and repair contract was signed between the merchants’ association and the service provider.

A district official stated, “The fire alarm will notify the fire station within 30 seconds of a fire occurrence,” adding, “Early fire suppression will help prevent loss of life and property.”

The fire detectors installed in stores detect four types of fire sources: flame, smoke, fixed temperature (heat), and differential (air expansion). When a detector senses a fire source, it sends a signal through the repeater to the control server (KT IDC Center).

If two or more fire sources are detected repeatedly four times over six seconds at the control server, the fire occurrence is automatically reported to the 119 emergency reporting server. The regional fire headquarters then identifies the fire location and business owner information received by the 119 server and orders the relevant fire station to dispatch personnel.

Separately, upon fire source detection, the KT control center immediately sends a text message to the store owner and calls to inform them of the fire detection to verify the site.

The sensitivity of fire source detection is adjusted according to the business hours to reduce unnecessary alerts.

Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “The district has been consulting with the merchants’ association and Yongsan Fire Station to promote the installation of fire alarm facilities,” adding, “Starting with Huam Market, we will expand the installation of fire alarm facilities to traditional markets in the region.”

There are a total of seven traditional markets in the area. Huam Market (77 Hangang-daero 104-gil) was established in 1954. The site area is 1,821㎡, with 50 stores, of which 42 are currently operating. In December 2020, the market undertook the organization and replacement of old wiring to prevent winter fires.

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