Gwanak-gu Announces This Year's Support Programs for Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Business Owners

Jointly Hosted by Gwanak-gu and the Seoul Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration:
Comprehensive Overview of Support Projects for SMEs and Small Merchants
Guidance on Ministry of SMEs and Startups Programs Including: Startup Ventures, Policy Funds, Exports, R&D, Guarantees, and Small Merchant Support
1:1 Customized Consultations with Field Experts from the Small and Medium Business Corporation and Small Enterprise and Market Service

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee), together with the Seoul Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration, will hold the '2025 Small and Medium Venture Business and Small Merchant Support Project Briefing Session' on the 10th at the Gwanak-gu Office auditorium.

This briefing session is organized to support small merchants and self-employed individuals in overcoming crises and stabilizing their management. It also aims to timely inform various support projects for the overseas expansion and innovative growth of small and medium venture businesses to increase corporate participation rates.

The event will be attended by related organizations including the Seoul Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration, Small and Medium Business Corporation, Korea Technology Finance Corporation, and Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development.

Participants can check various support projects from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups such as ▲startup ventures ▲policy funds ▲exports ▲R&D ▲guarantees ▲small merchant support, as well as various government and related institution support programs all in one place.

In particular, on-site 1:1 customized consultations with experts from the Small and Medium Business Corporation and the Small Enterprise and Market Service will be conducted to resolve participants' questions.

Corporate finance and guarantee support programs provided by Woori Bank and the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation will also be available for review.

Entrepreneurs and small merchants wishing to participate in the briefing session can attend on-site on the day without a separate application.

Since the end of last year, the district has prioritized budget allocation for the recovery of the livelihood economy by early recruiting loans amounting to 3.5 billion KRW, corresponding to the first half support scale of the 2025 Small Business Development Fund for small merchants.

In the second half of the year, the 'Gwanak Small and Medium Venture Promotion Center' will be established and fully operated. This will serve as a control tower for building Gwanak's venture startup ecosystem, continuing more comprehensive and systematic support for startups.

District Mayor Park Jun-hee said, "Through this briefing session, I hope small and medium venture businesses and small merchants can understand various institutional support projects at a glance and receive practical benefits," adding, "We will do our best to support small businesses and small merchants, which form the foundation of the local economy, to overcome crises amid difficult economic conditions."

Mapo-gu Recruiting Meal Service Institutions to Share Warmth with ‘A Warm Meal’ for the Elderly

Targeting institutions capable of operating meal services such as senior centers and religious facilities

Meal service institutions will receive side dishes and soup prepared at the side dish factory

Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Kang-soo) is recruiting meal service institutions to participate in the ‘Hyo-do Bapsang’ (Filial Piety Meal) project until February 14.

‘Hyo-do Bapsang’ is a one-stop customized elderly welfare policy unique to Mapo-gu that goes beyond providing balanced lunch meals for seniors aged 75 and older, including welfare checks to prevent solitary deaths and health consultations for diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions.

The recruitment targets are senior centers, religious facilities, and others located in Mapo-gu as of the announcement date (January 22, 2025), equipped with the necessary facilities and personnel to operate meal services. Additionally, they must be able to serve an average of 20 or more people per day.

Selected meal service institutions will receive warm and fresh side dishes and soup prepared every morning at the ‘Hyo-do Bapsang Side Dish Factory,’ ensuring the nutrition of the elderly. Support for personnel and other operational needs will also be provided to the meal service institutions.

Mapo-gu plans to select the final meal service institutions in February through a selection committee composed of welfare experts and others, based on applications received.

Meal service institutions wishing to participate in Hyo-do Bapsang should visit the Elderly Accompaniment Division on the 6th floor of Mapo-gu Office by 6 p.m. on February 14 to apply.

Application documents and further details can be found on the Mapo-gu website.

District Mayor Park Kang-soo said, “In a super-aged society, elderly care is an issue that requires cooperation from all members of the community,” adding, “We ask for warm interest and participation so that more seniors can use the Hyo-do Bapsang, which supports their daily lives.” He emphasized, “Mapo-gu will do its best to promote the Hyo-do Bapsang project for the healthy and happy aging of seniors.”

This year, Mapo-gu plans to additionally establish a Hyo-do Bapsang side dish factory and increase the number of meal service institutions to 100, enabling up to 4,000 seniors to use the Hyo-do Bapsang.