29.57 Billion KRW in Support Secured Through Investment Attraction and Government Projects from 2022 to 2024
148 Intellectual Property Registrations and 34 External Awards Mark Outstanding Achievements
Marking its 3rd anniversary this year, the Jungnang Startup Support Center in Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) has established itself as a hub that revitalizes the local startup ecosystem and drives the competitiveness and growth of resident companies.
The center has provided systematic startup support services such as startup and growth education, 1:1 customized consulting, networking among resident companies, and investment attraction briefings to help early-stage startups achieve successful growth. Over the past three years, it has operated 55 startup and growth education sessions and 236 customized consulting sessions, actively supporting entrepreneurs in solving practical problems and establishing business strategies.
As a result, 39 companies secured a total of 2.957 billion KRW in financial support by being selected for investment attraction and government support projects, and their technological capabilities were recognized through 148 intellectual property rights applications and registrations. Additionally, 15 companies demonstrated outstanding competitiveness by winning 34 external awards in various fields.
Resident company Blissole (CEO Kang Da-eun) is rapidly growing by collaborating with Lotte World through its self-developed character intellectual property (IP) ‘Dankongi’ to launch eco-friendly oral hygiene products. Starting in 2024, it is actively participating in global exhibitions to expand into overseas markets and aims to become a global character IP brand beginning with the Taiwan exhibition in 2025.
Graduate company Big Machine Motors Co., Ltd. (CEO Lim Se-bin) developed ‘Big Machine Market,’ a used parts trading platform for large trucks, and has grown by securing about 2,000 trading partners. By recycling used parts, it creates energy-saving effects and recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vietnamese company NSN to expand its business into the Southeast Asian market.
Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “The Jungnang Startup Support Center has played a strong support role for startup companies,” adding, “We will continue to operate various programs so that prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs can build competitiveness and grow stably, contributing to revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs.”
Gwanak-gu Strengthens Collection of Delinquent Taxes by Seizing Virtual Assets
Seizing virtual assets of delinquent taxpayers who deliberately hide assets through virtual assets to collect unpaid taxes
Reviewing virtual asset holdings and seizure feasibility through exchanges before proceeding with seizure and collection
As the trading volume in the virtual asset market increases recently, Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee), in cooperation with Seoul City, is strengthening efforts to collect delinquent local taxes by seizing virtual assets of delinquent taxpayers.
This policy aims to eradicate asset concealment by delinquent taxpayers who hold virtual assets but evade tax payments and to discover new tax sources.
Virtual assets are considered to have economic value under the Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information and include ‘virtual currencies’ or ‘crypto assets’ such as Bitcoin.
In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that virtual assets are intangible assets with property value and are subject to confiscation. In 2022, Article 61 of the Local Tax Collection Act was newly established, legalizing the seizure and sale procedures of delinquent taxpayers’ virtual assets.
Accordingly, the district plans to review the virtual asset holdings and seizure feasibility of delinquent local taxpayers in Gwanak-gu through five exchanges registered with the Financial Services Commission and proceed with the tax collection process.
A total of 325 delinquent taxpayers will undergo virtual asset seizure and collection procedures this time, with the delinquent amount reaching 1.036 billion KRW.
Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, “Through this virtual asset tracking and seizure, we will fundamentally block unscrupulous delinquent taxpayers from abusing virtual assets as a means of asset concealment,” adding, “We will continue to actively collect delinquent taxes by discovering various collection methods to realize tax justice and increase revenue.”
Songpa-gu Confirms 18 Billion KRW Education Expense Subsidy for 2025
Supporting 139 elementary, middle, high, and special schools in the district... Focused on enhancing education quality to nurture creative talents
▲ Gifted education, school-specific specialized projects ▲ Environmental improvements ▲ Eco-friendly meals, free education, entrance preparation funds, and other universal welfare support
Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it has finalized a total of 18.09 billion KRW in education expense subsidies for 2025 and will support a total of 139 schools including kindergartens, elementary, middle, high, and special schools.
Education expense subsidies are financial supports provided by local governments to schools and kindergartens at various levels. As the district with the largest student population in Seoul, Songpa-gu froze this year’s subsidy at the same level as last year’s 18 billion KRW despite budget tightening challenges. The district plans to continue comprehensive support ranging from universal welfare such as educational infrastructure, meals, and free education to school-specific specialized projects that provide diverse learning experiences and opportunities.
Major support projects include allocating 4.52 billion KRW for gifted education, school-specific specialized projects, and environmental improvements; 12.36 billion KRW for eco-friendly meals; 330 million KRW for free high school education; and 880 million KRW for entrance preparation funds, totaling 18.09 billion KRW.
Particularly this year, the focus is on talent development by supporting admission to gifted education centers for elementary and middle school students and customized specialized programs for each school. Timely advanced technology education such as ChatGPT, coding education, and robotics competitions will be combined with traditional Korean music classes and creative and character-building programs to enhance educational diversity and quality.
The kindergarten education expense subsidy was planned by actively reflecting field demands. Beyond existing support for facility environment and teacher cultural activities, the scope has been greatly expanded to include programs fostering character development, arts and physical education, and science, thereby increasing diversity in early childhood education.
Additionally, the district plans to innovate learning spaces by creating small-scale learning centers called ‘Samsam O O Learning Centers,’ along with necessary facility improvements such as equipment replacement and repairs of aging facilities.
Moreover, the district is committed to providing universal educational welfare without discrimination. It supplies eco-friendly meals to all age groups from kindergarten to high school, offers free education for all high school grades, and provides entrance preparation funds to new students from elementary to high school to ensure all students benefit equally.
The district carefully considers safety and urgency for each case, providing tailored support to each school and holding an annual Education Expense Deliberation Committee to ensure fair support based on rational standards and procedures.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Supporting education expenses is the most valuable investment to nurture the future leaders of our country,” adding, “We will continue to provide support based on field needs and make every effort to create an educational environment that fosters creative talents.”
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