Mayor Park Junhee: "Young Entrepreneurs, Come to Gwanak S Valley and Realize Your Dreams"

"The Optimal Place for Startups with Three Key Strengths"
Goal: 1,000 Venture Companies, a Virtuous Cycle of Innovative Economy
About Mayor Park Junhee

"If you are a young entrepreneur who wants to succeed, come to Gwanak S Valley and seize the opportunity. We will do everything we can to help you succeed."

Park Junhee, mayor of Seoul's Gwanak District (age 62), emphasized the vision of 'Gwanak S Valley' with a confident voice. He said, "Just as Stanford University is at the heart of Silicon Valley, and Tsinghua University is central to Zhongguancun, I have always found it unfortunate that Gwanak District, despite having Seoul National University?the top university in Korea?remained merely a bedroom community. I am determined to make Gwanak District, together with Seoul National University, a venture startup city that attracts global attention."

Park Junhee, mayor of Gwanak District, said in an interview on the 9th, "We will make Gwanak District a venture startup city that attracts global attention." Provided by Gwanak District.

As a two-term mayor in the 7th and 8th popularly elected administrations, he cited the creation of Gwanak S Valley as the most rewarding achievement of his tenure, and identified it as a task that must be completed if he is elected for a third term in next year's election.

Meeting at the Sillim Venture Startup Center 1 in Gwanak S Valley, Sillim-dong, on the 9th, Mayor Park said, "In 2019, the year after I took office as the 7th-term mayor, I visited the president's office at Seoul National University and proposed to then-President Oh Sejung that we build a venture startup city. I was determined to create a new growth engine that would allow Gwanak to grow into an innovative economic city."

Gwanak S Valley is a project that aims to transform the entire Gwanak District into a global startup hub where universities, businesses, and the local community coexist, leveraging Seoul National University's outstanding talent, technological prowess, and the asset of youth. Mayor Park began pursuing this project in July 2018, immediately after taking office as the 7th-term mayor.

"The Optimal Place for Startups with Three Key Strengths"

Why should entrepreneurs choose Gwanak District for their startups? Mayor Park highlighted the strengths of Gwanak S Valley as talent, space, and support infrastructure. He said, "There are three main attractions: a wealth of young talent, including research and development personnel from Seoul National University; office space available at one-tenth the price of private rentals; and support organizations and systems that provide dedicated assistance to venture entrepreneurs."

Gwanak District offers ample opportunities for venture guidance from Seoul National University's faculty and for recruiting outstanding talent. With a high proportion of young residents (41.4%), the district has even adopted the BI (Brand Identity) of 'Youth-Friendly City.' There are also incentives resulting from its designation as a Venture Business Promotion Zone (by the Minister of SMEs and Startups) and as a Special Development Promotion Zone (by the Mayor of Seoul), as well as a wealth of startup infrastructure and programs supporting the growth of venture and startup companies.

Mayor Park said, "Supporting venture companies requires more than simple administrative measures; it needs systematic, expert-driven support. This month, for the first time among autonomous districts, we launched the Gwanak Small and Venture Business Promotion Agency." The agency, funded by the district office, supports the entire growth cycle of venture companies, from technology and management consulting to overseas expansion and marketing.

The creation of Gwanak S Valley is a project Mayor Park had envisioned since his time as a city council member. He believed that developing youth employment and future-oriented industries would revitalize the local economy and enhance not only regional development but also national competitiveness. After taking office as mayor in 2018, he established new economic organizations such as the Job and Venture Division and the External Policy Team. To secure additional funding, he focused on attracting external competitive projects.

Thanks to these efforts, the total budget increased from 606.4 billion won in 2018 to 1.055 trillion won this year. He said, "I believed that maximizing external funding to expand our budget would be the driving force behind Gwanak's development, so I created a dedicated team to attract outside resources. During the 8th-term administration, we succeeded in securing 246.7 billion won in external funding."

Park Junhee, mayor of Gwanak District (center), who visited the CES 2025 venue, is cheering with representatives of tenant companies in front of the Gwanak S Valley Hall. Provided by Gwanak District.

"Goal: 1,000 Venture Companies, a Virtuous Cycle of Innovative Economy"

The efforts made over the past seven years are now yielding tangible results. Mayor Park said, "So far, 238 startups have been established, with about 1,300 talented individuals showcasing their abilities in advanced industries. Companies based in Gwanak S Valley have won CES Innovation Awards in three categories last year and in five categories across four companies this year, after first entering in 2022."

Gwanak District is also pursuing a plan to remove a portion (73,000 square meters) of Nakseongdae Park in Bongcheon-dong from park designation to build a large-scale startup hub building. Mayor Park said, "Seoul National University will construct the building, while Gwanak District will provide administrative support, maximizing efficiency. If the project proceeds smoothly, occupancy will be possible in 2029."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is planning to establish 'Seoul Startup Hub Gwanak,' an eight-story facility in Sillim-dong focused on nurturing deep-tech startups. Mayor Park said, "If these plans are realized, Gwanak District will be home to more than 1,000 venture companies, with at least 6,000 to 10,000 startup entrepreneurs creating an innovative ecosystem that circulates the local economy. I will do my utmost to ensure Gwanak becomes a fully realized innovative economic city."

Throughout the interview, Mayor Park strongly expressed his intention to run for a third term. He said, "I believe I must complete and ensure the success of the projects I have pursued so far. I will make Gwanak the city where the sun rises first."

Park Junhee, mayor of Gwanak District, expressed his intention to run for a third term in an interview with reporters. Provided by Gwanak District.

About Mayor Park Junhee

Park Junhee, whose hometown is Wando, Jeollanam-do, first became connected to Gwanak District in his twenties when he began living independently in a rented room in Bongcheon-dong for 800,000 won. He entered local politics by joining the Peace Democratic Party, founded by the late President Kim Daejung in 1987, and served as both a district councilor and a Seoul city councilor in Gwanak District for eight years each, totaling 16 years. Including his two terms as mayor, he has been a local politician for 24 years.