"We Support North Korean Defectors in Starting Convenience Stores"

Yeolmae Nanum Foundation and 7-Eleven
Recruiting Participants for the Startup Support Program for North Korean Defectors

The social welfare foundation Yeolmae Nanum Foundation (CEO Lee Jangho) announced on May 14 that it is recruiting participants for the "2025 North Korean Defector Convenience Store Startup Support Program" in collaboration with Korea Seven (CEO Kim Hongcheol), the operator of the convenience store chain 7-Eleven. This program is characterized by its comprehensive support, which includes initial costs required for starting a business, practical training, and mentoring.

Eligibility is limited to North Korean defectors who have resided in South Korea for at least three years, and anyone wishing to open a 7-Eleven franchise (in the form of a commissioned franchise) in the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon), Daejeon, or Sejong may apply.

Selected participants will receive support from 7-Eleven, including partial exemption of franchise membership fees and preferential benefits when signing a store contract, in order to reduce the initial financial burden of starting a business.

Since 2008, Yeolmae Nanum Foundation has supported the stable settlement of North Korean defectors and will provide close support throughout the entire process, from business preparation to store operation, including partial franchise training costs, startup education, emotional support, and mentoring.

Yeolmae Nanum Foundation and 7-Eleven stated, "Since jointly launching this program in 2020, we have supported the business startups of many North Korean defectors, with a high level of satisfaction among participants," adding, "It has established itself as a representative cooperation model supporting the self-reliance of North Korean defectors."

Choi Unjeong, Secretary General of Yeolmae Nanum Foundation, stated, "This program is a model in which a nonprofit organization and a company cooperate to support the stable self-reliance of North Korean defectors," and added, "We will continue to expand effective support models for the self-reliance of North Korean defectors."

Applications for the program will be accepted until May 27, and further details can be found on the official website of Yeolmae Nanum Foundation.