Activation of Local Creators and Regional Special Zones Linkage... Ministry of SMEs and Startups Holds Forum

On the 10th at Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center
"Very High Potential for Achieving Results Through Collaboration"

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 10th that it held a “Discussion Forum for Revitalizing Local Specialized Zones Linked with Local Creators” at the Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center.

Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups visited 'Boksundoga,' a representative local creator in Ulsan, on May 30th [Photo by Ministry of SMEs and Startups]

Since 2004, the government has been operating the “Local Specialized Zone System,” which applies regulatory exemptions tailored to regional characteristics to foster local specialized industries. In addition, since 2020, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has been continuing the Local Creator Development Project, which combines creative ideas with the region’s natural environment and cultural assets to create business value.

An official from the Ministry explained, “Both the Local Specialized Zones and Local Creators were introduced to create business value from regional characteristics and revitalize the local economy, so there is a very high possibility of producing remarkable results through the linkage of the system and the project.”

The forum proceeded in the order of explaining the Local Specialized Zone system and the Local Creator Development Project, introducing best cases, and holding a free discussion among participants on linking regulatory exemptions and local creators.

As an excellent case of a specialized zone in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, the “Herbal Garlic Industry Zone” in Yeongcheon City, Gyeongbuk, was introduced. The Herbal Garlic Industry Zone contributed significantly to revitalizing the local economy by utilizing exemptions from the Road Act, Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and Agricultural and Fishery Products Distribution Act to hold the Yeongcheon Herbal Medicine Festival, create a herbal medicine distribution complex, and establish a medicinal street. It was selected as the best specialized zone in 2022 and received the Presidential Award.

Also featured was the case of “Our Siseon,” a promising local creator in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. They are creating a local specialized commercial district centered on the Myeongju Theme Park and the complex cultural space Myeongju Garden, using Myeongju, a specialty product of Sangju, Gyeongbuk, and developing and selling Myeongju products such as scarves and dresses.

Lee Eun-cheong, head of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration, said in a congratulatory speech, “I hope that a new cooperation model between Local Specialized Zones and Local Creators will be discovered and become a cornerstone that brings practical change and development to the local community.”

Kim Hong-ju, head of the Special Zone Innovation Planning Group at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, “Both Local Specialized Zones and Local Creators play a very important role in revitalizing regional economies at risk of extinction,” and added, “We will prepare support measures based on the voices from local governments and innovative entrepreneurs in the region.”

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