Completion of Gaonnuri I & II Youth Startup Spaces and Share House in Gwangjin-gu

Published 12 Jun.2020 06:45(KST)

Providing Office Space, Startup Education, and Investment Attraction Support for Startup Companies

Gaonnuri Bird's-eye View

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is set to actively promote the ‘Sejong University Campus Town Project,’ which is being carried out in cooperation with Seoul City and Sejong University.

The Campus Town Project is an initiative that encourages youth job creation and regional coexistence by leveraging university resources, public support, and collaboration with the local community.

The district signed a business agreement with Sejong University in November 2017 to promote the Campus Town Project, and in December 2017, it was finally selected as a comprehensive Campus Town project by Seoul City.

The Sejong University Campus Town will receive a total of 10 billion KRW in support over four years from 2019 to 2022, with approximately 2.5 billion KRW budgeted for this year.

The district completed the Gaonnuri I & II and Share House, which serve as the project’s base centers, in April and is now fully launching the project. Gaonnuri I will be used as an exhibition space for product demonstrations and promotions by startup companies.

Here, Sejong University’s resources will be matched with startups according to the characteristics of each department to jointly develop prototypes, which will be displayed in the caf? space to enhance promotional effects.

Additionally, six teams selected from the Sejong University Campus Town Startup Competition will be provided with office space on the second floor’s startup studio to discover sustainable startups and create jobs. The third floor will be an open sky lounge where local residents and citizens can relax.

Gaonnuri II is a remodeled existing building that will be used as classrooms and a community center. The second floor will serve as a shared office and the office space for the Sejong University Campus Town Promotion Team. Additional startup teams will be selected to use the shared office space. Selected startups will receive comprehensive support including startup education, prototype production, and business management consulting.

The Share House is a shared housing concept that supports members of startup teams residing in Gaonnuri by providing affordable housing. Meeting rooms and community spaces have also been created to allow residents to gather and share ideas about startups and entrepreneurship.

The Sejong University Campus Town Project supports business coaching and investment attraction through the five-stage Sejong Startup Program (Ready-Work-Jump-Run-Fly). Last year, a ‘Startup Item Contest’ was held for local residents, awarding 11.5 million KRW in prize money and expert mentoring opportunities to the winners.

Furthermore, to seek a partnership-based development between the university and the local community, regional-linked classes were conducted for Sejong University students. These classes, themed around entrepreneurship, culture, housing, commercial districts, and regional exchange activation, connected local characteristics by field. In the first semester of 2019, five courses were offered, and in the second semester, twelve courses were held. Through these classes, students had the opportunity to interact with residents and merchants, gaining a deeper understanding of the region.

Gaonnuri

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, stated, “I hope that the Sejong University Campus Town base center will become a hub that creates hope for youth and fosters regional coexistence.” He added, “We will continue to support projects that comprehensively enhance vitality in housing, culture, commercial districts, and regional cooperation, centered on youth entrepreneurship.”