Jeonju University Holds 3rd Local Venture Business Forum

Startup Strategies Based on Local and Intellectual Property (IP) Management

The Department of Local Venture Studies at Jeonju University, together with Jeonju City Council member Choi Seoyeon, held the 3rd Local Venture Business Forum on November 12.

According to Jeonju University on November 13, the forum was organized to share the growing importance of intellectual property rights-such as trademarks, patents, and copyrights-as core assets in the rapidly expanding field of local startups, and to seek innovative startup strategies based on this understanding.

The forum was held under the theme "Startup Strategies Based on Local and Intellectual Property (IP) Management." Presentations included "Intellectual Property Rights Strategies for Local Ventures" by patent attorney Eom Jeongan (BLT Patent & Law Firm), and "Trademark Disputes and Response Strategies in the Local Business Sector" by patent attorney Choi Hyoseon (Gwanggaeto Patent Law Office).

Patent attorney Eom Jeongan emphasized, through real startup cases in the F&B sector, that local brands can simultaneously enhance brand protection and business performance by strategically utilizing intellectual property rights.

Next, patent attorney Choi Hyoseon introduced various trademark dispute cases faced by small brands that have grown through local entrepreneurship, and stressed the importance of proactive trademark strategies to protect their brand value.

The subsequent panel discussion included the presenters as well as Council member Choi Seoyeon (Jeonju City Council), Visiting Professor An Sangho (Department of Local Venture Studies, Jeonju University), Director Lee Sooyoung (Jeonbuk Center for Creative Economy & Innovation), patent attorney Ham Youngwook (Minyoung Patent Law Office), and Professor Kim Siyeol (Department of Local Venture Studies, Jeonju University).

The panelists engaged in an in-depth discussion about the practical challenges of applying IP management in the local startup process in Jeonju, as well as various solutions to overcome these difficulties.

In particular, it was pointed out that despite the emergence of various intellectual property rights cases in the local startup sector, local entrepreneurs' awareness remains insufficient. Accordingly, the participants agreed on the need to spread the understanding that intellectual property rights are inseparable from local entrepreneurship throughout the community, and to establish practical support systems.

Professor Kim Siyeol of Jeonju University stated, "Through this forum, we have confirmed that local entrepreneurship can become a strategic tool for regional innovation by combining startup activities with intellectual property management," and added, "We hope that a variety of content from the Jeonju region will develop into IP-based local startup models, becoming a true driving force for regional economic growth."

Meanwhile, the Department of Local Venture Studies at Jeonju University's College of Future Convergence operates majors in Local Business, Real Estate Investment Management, and Healing Leisure, aiming to nurture experts in entrepreneurship and management based on the local community.