Gyeongnam Jeongbodae Hotel Baking and Pastry Department Graduate Wins Grand Prize for Successful Startup Kukip

Gyeongnam Information University announced on the 5th that Choi Eun-ji (CEO of Kukip Baking Class), a graduate of the university's Hotel Bakery and Pastry Department, won the grand prize, the highest award, at the ‘2024 Small Business Competency Enhancement Best Practices Contest’ hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Small Enterprise and Market Service.

Graduate of Hotel Baking and Pastry Department at Gyeongnam Information University, Choi Eun-ji, wins grand prize for successful startup Cookip. Provided by Gyeongnam Information University

This contest was held by the Small Enterprise and Market Service to discover and spread excellent cases of competency enhancement such as education and consulting for small business owners.

While attending university, Choi participated in the ‘Local Gourmet Major’ program offered by the Local Contents Focused University Project Group at Gyeongnam Information University, where she developed her entrepreneurial skills through various startup programs and experimental startups. After graduation, she was selected for the ‘New Business Startup Academy’ and received business consulting support, successfully founding the local brand ‘Kukip Baking Class’ in Haeundae.

Choi expressed her aspirations to juniors, saying, “If you have passion and ideas for starting a business, don’t hesitate to take on the challenge.” She added, “Although the start is modest, I plan to grow it into a local brand representing the region through a franchise business within the next five years.”

Lee Won-hee, director of the Local Contents Focused University Project Group, said, “We will continue to strengthen support so that second and third exemplary startup cases reflecting the characteristics of the region can continuously emerge.”

Gyeongnam Information University was selected as a Local Contents Focused University by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2023 and is currently operating convergent curricula tailored to regional characteristics, including ▲ Local Gourmet (美食) Major (a fusion of Hotel Food Service and Culinary Arts and Hotel Bakery and Pastry Departments) and ▲ Media & Beauty Contents Major (a fusion of Media Video Department and K-Beauty Department).