Kim Jong-ho, Kibo Chairman, Supports Early Recovery from Gangneung Wildfire Damage

Preventing Secondary Damage to Local Tourism Industry
Supporting Local Specialized Industries

The Korea Technology Finance Corporation (Kibo) announced on the 21st that Chairman Kim Jong-ho visited the Gangneung area in Gangwon Province to assess the damage to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the special disaster zone caused by the Gangneung wildfire and to review support measures.

Chairman Kim visited The Wave Company, a tourism content company expected to suffer secondary damage from the Gangneung wildfire, and Optbio, an advanced industry company located in the Gangneung Science Industrial Complex. The Wave Company, established in 2017 as a youth startup, provides lodging and workspace rental services tailored to the demand for 'workation (Work+Vacation),' which combines work and leisure simultaneously. Kibo highly evaluated The Wave Company's growth potential and efforts to create local jobs, designating it as a social venture company and providing preferential guarantees.

Chairman Kim Jong-ho (right) is visiting small and medium-sized enterprises within the special disaster area of the wildfire in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, assessing the damage and reviewing support measures.

Chairman Kim met with Choi Ji-baek, CEO of The Wave Company, to hear about the current situation and the anticipated secondary damage. Chairman Kim stated, "The Gangwon region's tourism industry, based on abundant natural resources, forms a key pillar of the local economy. Kibo will proactively provide guarantee support to prevent the wildfire damage from leading to a downturn in Gangneung's tourism industry and local economy, and will prioritize support for SMEs confirmed to have been affected."

Chairman Kim also visited Optbio, an advanced industry company located in the Gangneung Science Industrial Complex. This company develops and manufactures functional cosmetics and health functional food ingredients using natural raw materials. Kibo provided preferential guarantees under the super-gap future strategic industry support program.

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