Chuncheon City Brings Together Startup Ecosystem... Station C Startup Expo Concludes Successfully

An Open Platform for Startup Exchange
with Universities, Institutions, Companies, and Citizens
Official Launch of the 'Station C Alliance'
Public-Private-Academic Collaboration Accelerates
Local Brand Festa Held Concurrently
Strengthening Chuncheon's Status as a Startup City

Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province is further strengthening its startup network centered around Station C, solidifying its position as a startup city.

Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, attended the "2025 3rd Chuncheon Station C Startup Expo" held on the 17th at the Urban High-Tech Cultural Industry Complex and is taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Chuncheon City

The '2025 3rd Chuncheon Station C Startup Expo,' held on October 17-18 at the Urban High-Tech Cultural Industry Complex in Seomyeon, Chuncheon, successfully concluded with about 10,000 citizens and entrepreneurs in attendance. The event was hosted by Chuncheon City (Mayor Yook Donghan) and co-organized by the Gangwon Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency, Kangwon National University, and Hallym University.

This year’s expo was especially notable for the direct participation of companies nurtured by each supporting institution’s own programs. Major organizations such as Kangwon National University, Hallym University, and the Gangwon Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, along with promising local startups, jointly operated booths and organized a variety of programs, including IR pitching sessions, investment consultations, and lectures. This created an open networking space where institutions, companies, investors, and citizens could freely interact.

The event’s high quality was attributed to the close collaboration among universities. Kangwon National University hosted IR pitching and an idea competition, presenting innovative ideas to lead 'Startup City Chuncheon' and boosting the event’s overall excitement and participation. Hallym University provided investment consultations and ran a local entrepreneur forum, offering practical support to startups at both early and growth stages. During the opening ceremony, Hallym University also showcased a performance to launch the 'Station C Alliance,' a project being promoted as part of its Glocal University initiative.

The highlight of the expo was the 'Station C Alliance Inauguration Ceremony,' where 15 startup support organizations from the Chuncheon area participated, formalizing their cooperative framework and pledging to pursue joint projects. The event was seen as a symbolic milestone for the 'Chuncheon-Style Startup Ecosystem' jointly created by the private sector, government, and academia, marking a significant leap forward.

Various citizen-participation programs were held throughout the venue. The Makerspace Experience Zone, VR and AI robot Omok matches, and mock crowdfunding events received enthusiastic responses from citizens, demonstrating that entrepreneurship can become a cultural part of everyday life rather than being limited to specific fields.

The 'Local Brand Festa,' held during the same period, also drew attention. Startup teams from the Geunhwa-dong 396 Youth Startup Support Center and local brands showcased and sold unique products, expanding practical sales channels for entrepreneurs and offering citizens more opportunities for hands-on experiences. The festival was held in conjunction with the AniToy Festival and continued through October 19.

Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, stated, "The Station C Startup Expo has established itself as a Chuncheon-style startup platform created collaboratively by local universities, institutions, entrepreneurs, and citizens. I hope this event will inspire the spirit of challenge among young people and serve as a stepping stone to open the future of Startup City Chuncheon."

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