On January 15, Gyeonggi Province held the "2025 Gyeongcheong Stars: Expanding Overseas Employment and Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Gyeonggi Youth" performance sharing event at the Gwanggyo Hall of the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator in Suwon Gwanggyo Techno Valley. Over 200 young people who had completed their overseas challenges attended the event to share their achievements and exchange experiences.
Gyeongcheong Stars is a program that provides local youth with opportunities for on-site experience at overseas companies and career exploration. In 2025, a total of 200 participants took part in the program across 14 cities in 13 countries.
The participants engaged in various activities such as practical language training, field internships, mentoring, and visits to international exhibitions in countries including the United States, Japan, India, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Germany, and Canada. The average competition rate for the program was 4.9 to 1.
Five outstanding participants who worked in Uzbekistan presented their analysis of the Uzbek convenience store market. They proposed a "Korean Wave Experience Convenience Store" that would introduce Korean-style convenience stores to Uzbekistan while adding localized food products. The concept aims to create a competitive space targeting K-pop and Korean Wave fans, middle-class office workers, and university students and young people, where they can enjoy meals and experience Korean products such as gimbap and bulgogi rice bowls.
An outstanding participant from Taiwan shared that the program allowed them to solidify their goal of becoming a global marketer. Through meetings with local companies and KOTRA officials, they gained experience in understanding differences in language, culture, work styles, and the job competencies required.
Gyeonggi Province is taking a commemorative photo with attendees after holding the Gyeongcheong Stars performance sharing meeting last year. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
Five participants who joined the program in India produced and presented a short-form video summarizing their activities, including visits to gaming companies and their personal reflections.
During the event, participants reflected on their past activities at experience booths and revisited letters they had written to themselves as part of a "time capsule" program, taking a moment to appreciate their personal growth. In addition, the operator of the YouTube channel "Culture & Art for You" delivered a special lecture, offering practical advice and messages of hope to the youth on the themes of entrepreneurship, challenge, and overcoming adversity.
Based on the achievements of this event, Gyeonggi Province plans to provide even more support this year so that more young people can develop their capabilities in a global environment.
Kim Dae-soon, Second Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The achievements of young people who faced challenges in unfamiliar settings are not just experiences, but important assets that brighten the future of our youth. Gyeonggi Province will continue to offer opportunities for young people to take on challenges in a broader world."
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