"Support Startup and Venture SMEs in Gyeongsan Area"... People Power Party's Jo Ji-yeon Meets with Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

Jo Ji-yeon, the elected member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party (Gyeongbuk Gyeongsan), met with Oh Young-joo, Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, on the 29th to discuss regional issues and request cooperation.

During the meeting, Representative Jo requested active support from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups for the operation of the regional Angel Investment Hub, the establishment of a manufacturing and processing urban-type small business complex support center, and the operation of Imdang Unicorn Park.

People Power Party's elected representative Jo Ji-yeon (left) is taking a commemorative photo after meeting with Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs and Startups.

Regarding the regional Angel Investment Hub, Representative Jo proposed securing national funding and personnel for stable operation. The regional Angel Investment Hub serves as a base for revitalizing investment in startups and venture companies, carrying out tasks such as discovering promising companies and making direct investments through funds.

In particular, it operates a public-private council to run investment, consultation, and education programs tailored to the region, and supports networking that connects entrepreneurs and investors. The Daegyeong area (Daegu and Gyeongbuk) Angel Investment Hub was finally selected on the 25th while Representative Jo was in consultation with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and it is scheduled to be established within the Gyeongbuk Center for Creative Economy and Innovation located at Yeungnam University in June.

Regarding the manufacturing and processing urban-type small business complex support center, Representative Jo requested budget allocation for design costs to create shared offices and laboratories, as well as for the introduction of advanced equipment such as metal 3D printers. This project aims to strengthen the competitiveness of local manufacturing and processing small enterprises and build a sustainable manufacturing ecosystem, and is planned to be developed on a 450-pyeong site within the Gyeongsan 4 General Industrial Complex in Jinryang-eup, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk.

Additionally, for Imdang Unicorn Park, which will become the largest startup and venture ecosystem hub in the Yeongnam region, Representative Jo requested cooperation and support at the ministry level. She explained the importance of securing 13.1 billion KRW in national funding necessary for the successful creation and operation of knowledge industry centers and open startup spaces.

Representative Jo Ji-yeon emphasized, “Small and medium enterprises, including startups and ventures, are the backbone of our country’s economy and greatly contribute to revitalizing the regional economy and creating jobs, so support at the central government level is urgently needed,” and pledged, “I promise to carry out field-centered legislative activities in the National Assembly to ensure that no blind spots arise where competitiveness cannot be enhanced due to lack of research personnel and advanced equipment.”