Minister Han Sung-sook Completes Final "Startup for All" Campus Tour... "Youth Challenges Are the Driving Force for Growth"

Visiting Chung-Ang University to Engage Directly with Students

Han Sung-sook, Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, conducted the final campus tour to boost interest among young people ahead of the deadline for the first round of applications for the "Startup for All" project.

On the 13th, Minister Han visited Chung-Ang University to listen to feedback from the university community. She has visited six university campuses nationwide to help spread interest in and participation in youth entrepreneurship.

The Startup for All project is a national startup initiative that allows anyone with an idea to freely take on the challenge of starting a business. Applications are open until 4:00 p.m. on the 15th. As of the 11th, the cumulative number of applicants exceeded 30,000, with more than 65% of participants being under 30, highlighting the strong enthusiasm among young people.

During the meeting, aspiring young entrepreneurs shared a variety of opinions on the concerns and support needed when developing startup ideas and preparing for launch. There were also discussions about the practical challenges faced in the early stages of entrepreneurship and the startup culture on university campuses.

Tran Thi Thanh, an international student, introduced the idea of a "customized job platform" for foreigners living in Korea, showing the potential for new opportunities for international students as well. Student Choi Jung-yoon said, "Based on my experiences with an on-campus startup club and startup camp, I was inspired to take on a business that combines art and technology."

Lee Jae-jin, CEO of Rush8 and a senior entrepreneur, said, "The trial and error I experienced while actively utilizing Chung-Ang University's startup infrastructure ultimately became the foundation for my growth." Student entrepreneur Choi Min-seok shared that a tragic accident involving someone close to him motivated him to develop an "emergency cooling kit," emphasizing that awareness of everyday issues and small concerns can lead to new startup ideas.

Minister Han stated, "The creative ideas and challenges of young people will become a new driving force for Korea's growth," adding, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will be with young people throughout the entire startup process so that they can take on challenges freely without fear of failure."