Haenam-gun Opens Shared Kitchen, a Joint Platform for Young Entrepreneurs in the Food Service Industry

Youth Food Startup Sharing Platform Thrives, Shared Office Also Operated

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] On the 17th, Jeonnam Haenam-gun announced that on the 11th, it opened a shared platform consisting of a shared kitchen and shared office to support young people who find it difficult to invest in initial startup costs.

The shared platform is a remodeled building in the old downtown area of Haenam-eup, with the first floor consisting of a shared kitchen and the second floor housing four shared offices. On the third floor of the same building is the Haenam Social Community Support Center.

The shared kitchen consists of three locations: Haenamsane, Haru, and Misilbebe, operated by four teams divided into morning and afternoon shifts. They have received favorable reviews by showcasing a variety of menus including Western, Korean, and snack foods developed through prior consulting and training.

The young chefs residing in the shared kitchen will gain practical experience in entrepreneurship by selling food for one year. They pay a portion of their sales revenue as management fees without separate rent.

Last year, the county was selected for the Jeonnam Population New Hope Finding Project competition and has been promoting the “Youth Food Culture Creative Campus Project” to support youth startups by providing shared offices and shared kitchens and offering food creator training.

Previously, a basic startup program was operated for 20 prospective entrepreneurs, including startup theory education, menu development and cooking practice, and consulting. Three young chefs, including Seo Donghyun, were finally selected and moved into the shared kitchen.

The four shared offices on the second floor are available to any county resident who needs office space for a monthly rental fee of 150,000 KRW.

County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan said, “The shared kitchen and shared office will be used as a base for youth startups by planning differentiated food content with a youthful sensibility and providing office space. We expect that the activation of the shared platform will not only revitalize the local economy but also help young people settle down, playing a significant role in creating a new youth culture in our county.”