Gyeonggi Province Promotes Economic Independence of North Korean Defectors with "Startup Consulting Training"
From Understanding Entrepreneurship to AI Utilization and Customized Expert Consulting
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 20th that it held a "Startup Consulting Training" at the Gyeonggi Human Resources Development Institute to promote the economic independence of North Korean defectors and to create an employment ecosystem.
Gyeonggi Province held a "Startup Consulting Training" on the 20th at the Gyeonggi Human Resources Development Institute to promote economic independence and create an employment ecosystem for North Korean defectors. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
This training program targeted 16 North Korean defectors in the province who aspire to start their own businesses. The program covered a wide range of topics, from understanding entrepreneurship to utilizing generative AI, and included customized consulting from experts, providing comprehensive support for the entire startup process.
The "Startup Consulting Training for North Korean Defectors" is a new initiative launched by Gyeonggi Province this year. It was designed not only to support the simple settlement of North Korean defectors in the local community, but also to promote their economic independence and social integration by creating an employment ecosystem.
Participants were selected from among startup hopefuls with strong motivation, mainly through the Hana Center in the province.
The training consisted of several components: understanding entrepreneurship, developing business plans and discovering business items using generative AI, sharing success and failure cases in startups, and consulting on business plans with professional consultants. Through this, participants had the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the startup process and acquire effective strategies that incorporate the latest technologies and trends, such as the use of generative AI.
Starting in July, Gyeonggi Province plans to implement a one-on-one customized program in which consulting experts and North Korean defectors work together. The consulting will be tailored to each individual's situation, providing practical advice based on a deep understanding of the unique characteristics of North Korean defectors.
As of the end of April this year, there were a total of 11,155 North Korean defectors residing in Gyeonggi Province, the largest number in the country. This accounts for 35.5% of the nationwide total of 31,443.
Meanwhile, the province has allocated a total budget of 3,251,900,000 KRW this year to support the stable settlement of North Korean defectors. This budget is being used for 15 projects across four main areas: establishing a foundation for economic independence, supporting the formation of "healthy families," promoting communication, harmony, and awareness improvement between South and North Korean residents, and strengthening integrated safety management to address settlement crises for North Korean defectors.
Lee Hyungeun, Director of Peace-Based Development at Gyeonggi Province, said, "I deeply appreciate all of you who have bravely taken on the challenge of starting a business in an unfamiliar environment. I sincerely hope that this training will become a meaningful turning point in your lives, beyond simply delivering information."
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