Yeongam County Recruits Restaurant Owners for 'Empty Store Filling Project'

Up to 45 Million KRW in Remodeling Support
'All-Care' Services from Startup to Post-Management

Yeongam County, South Jeolla Province (Governor Woo Seunghee) is recruiting three business owners to open restaurants utilizing vacant commercial spaces until the 19th of next month.

According to the county on the 18th, the "Vacant Store Filling Project," promoted as part of the "Comprehensive Food Content Development Plan," is a win-win investment initiative aimed at securing diversity in local food content, revitalizing local commercial districts, and ensuring sustainable development.

Employees of Jangsanri Butcher Shop, the first store opened last year through the Vacant Store Filling Project, are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Yeongam County

If selected for the project, each business will receive up to 45 million KRW in support for remodeling costs to ease the initial investment burden. In addition, all-care services will be provided, including a boot camp that supports everything from detailed business planning to post-management, one-on-one consulting with a professional chef, and advice from marketing, tax, and accounting experts.

In particular, the one-on-one consulting with a professional chef will feature "the President's Chef," Chef Chun Sanghyun, who will share basics of cooking and know-how on restaurant management. Chef Chun served as the head chef at the Blue House for over 20 years and currently runs the Chinese restaurant "Chunsanghyuneui Cheonsang" and the Korean restaurant "Sangchunjae."

Anyone wishing to enrich the food infrastructure with differentiated cuisine in Yeongam-eup or Gunseo-myeon can participate in the recruitment, with priority given to those holding national certifications related to the food service industry or graduates of culinary arts programs. Detailed information and applications for the project are handled by the Jeonnam Creative Economy Innovation Center, and submissions can be made via email or mail.

Kim Dongsik, Head of the Tourism Division, stated, "Last year's Vacant Store Filling Project saw the successful opening of the first store, 'Jangsanri Pujutgan,' and the second store, 'Chonstaurant.' This year, in collaboration with the Jeonnam Creative Economy Innovation Center, we will provide all-care services and a more robust system to support the successful settlement of prospective entrepreneurs."

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