2023 Gwangju Jeonnam Venture Entrepreneurs and ICT/SW Entrepreneurs Night Successfully Held

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Venture Business Association (President Kim Myung-sul) announced on the 14th that it successfully held the ‘2023 Gwangju-Jeonnam Venture Entrepreneurs and ICT/SW Entrepreneurs Night’ event on the 12th at the 4th floor Convention Hall of the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center.

The event was co-hosted by four organizations: Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency (Director Lee Kyung-joo), Jeonnam Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency (Director Lee In-yong), and Energy Valley Enterprise Development Institute (Director Lim Cheong-won).

As an event jointly hosted by four organizations leading the ICT/SW and energy industries in Gwangju and Jeonnam, including the Gwangju-Jeonnam Venture Business Association, it has firmly established itself as the year-end party representing startups and venture SMEs in the region.

About 200 venture entrepreneurs and related officials attended, including Cho Jong-rae, Director of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Small and Medium Business Administration, Yoon Mira, Head of the Startup Promotion Division of Gwangju Metropolitan City, Kim Ji-in, Team Leader of the Jeonnam Province Small and Medium Venture Division, Kim Hyun-hwa, President of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Women’s Venture Association, Lee Chang-eun, President of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Branch of the Venture Business Association, and Kim Kyung-tae, Head of the Honam Regional Headquarters of the Korea Technology Finance Corporation.

Despite the ongoing triple crisis and the economic chill triggered by the Daewoo Winia incident, Gwangju-Jeonnam venture entrepreneurs and ICT/SW entrepreneurs gathered to make a strong commitment to turning crisis into opportunity as they close out the year.

Additionally, the event included a ceremony to safely conclude the year 2023 and to honor and encourage meritorious individuals.

Prior to the main event, a special lecture titled ‘The Language of Leaders in the AI Era’ was held by Park Jin-young, CEO of the Empathy Communication Research Institute.

CEO Park received great acclaim by suggesting ways to cultivate empathy skills in the AI era, stating, “Before managing an organization, you must know how to manage your own life, and those who fail to manage their own lives will also fail in organizational management.”

At the ‘2023 Meritorious Awards’ ceremony, the following were recognized: ▲ Gwangju Metropolitan Mayor’s Commendation: Jung Won-il, CEO of J Energy Solution Co., Ltd.; Cho Seung-soo, CEO of DLT World Co., Ltd.; Jang Cheol-ho, CEO of Good First Information Technology Co., Ltd.; Shin Jun-seop, CEO of Atmos Co., Ltd.; Kim Sang-ah, Manager at Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency; Lee Se-young, Researcher at the Honam Research Center of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute ▲ Jeonnam Governor’s Commendation: Eum Young-man, CEO of Cheonpung Co., Ltd.; Jeong Kyung-ho, Director at Energy Valley Enterprise Development Institute; Kwon Jun-ah, Head of ICT Convergence Division at Jeonnam Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency ▲ Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration Director’s Commendation: Kim Yong-su, CEO of Bion C Innovator Co., Ltd.; Jang Ji-won, Deputy Manager at Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency; Jo Min-sung, Manager at Jeonnam Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency ▲ Gwangju Regional Public Procurement Service Director’s Commendation: Song Kwang-chul, CEO of L-Top Co., Ltd.; Yoon Seon-jung, CEO of Dream Tree Co., Ltd.; Eum Young-man, CEO of Cheonpung Co., Ltd. ▲ Venture Business Association President’s Commendation: Kim Ji-sook, Advisor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Venture Business Association; Kim Hyun-su, CEO of Tina ENT Co., Ltd.; Kim Dong-hoon, CEO of Agricultural Corporation Ibanchon Farm Co., Ltd.; Jung Woo-joo, CEO of Indie Jay Co., Ltd.; Kim Dae-sung, CEO of Inode Co., Ltd. ▲ Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency Director’s Commendation: Park Hyun-jung, CEO of Blue Capsule Co., Ltd.; Yang Seung-ho, CEO of Unicompany Co., Ltd. ▲ Jeonnam Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency Director’s Commendation: Hwang Yong-hee, CEO of Odin Co., Ltd.; Kang Won-hyuk, CEO of Nalda Co., Ltd. ▲ Gwangju-Jeonnam Venture Business Association President’s Commendation: Lee Kyung-san, CEO of Jogyeong Culture; Lee Tae-beom, CEO of Ace Golf Co., Ltd.; Lee Sun-kwan, CEO of Ghost Pass Co., Ltd.; Kang Han-hee, CEO of Shinsegye Project Co., Ltd.; Kim Sam-moon, CEO of Haemiro; Kim Byung-jae, Senior at Energy Valley Enterprise Development Institute; Lee Ji-young, Manager at Gwangju Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency; Yang Si-won, Reporter at Gwangju Maeil Newspaper. A total of 31 individuals were commended for their contributions to enhancing the competitiveness of venture and ICT/SW companies in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region, revitalizing the local economy, and fostering the venture business ecosystem.

Director Lee Kyung-joo said, “I hope this provides even a small comfort to entrepreneurs amid the continuing difficult economic chill,” and added, “The four organizations will continue to join forces to actively support entrepreneurs.”

He emphasized, “In 2024 as well, let us unite with the Gwangju-Jeonnam Venture Business Association, Jeonnam Information & Culture Industry Promotion Agency, and Energy Valley Enterprise Development Institute to create a foundation for venture entrepreneurs and ICT/SW entrepreneurs in this region to leap forward.”