Up to 30 Million Won in Funding
Recruiting Entrepreneurs Based on Local Resources
Uljin County is simultaneously promoting startup support programs to vitalize youth entrepreneurship, create local jobs, and attract more residents. The county announced that it is recruiting participants for the “Startup Support Project for Selected Public Proposal Ideas” and the “Gyeongbuk Youth Prospective Startup and Incubation Program.”
The “Startup Support Project for Selected Public Proposal Ideas” is a program designed to discover and support startup items that utilize Uljin’s local resources and cultural characteristics. It provides up to 30 million won in startup funds per team to prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs. Eligible applicants are prospective entrepreneurs aged 19 to 49 whose address is in Uljin County, or business owners within three years of founding.
The “Gyeongbuk Youth Prospective Startup and Incubation Program” is a program to support startups and creative projects by young people with technological capabilities and business potential, providing up to 12 million won in startup funds. Eligible applicants are prospective entrepreneurs aged 19 to 39, or early-stage entrepreneurs within one year of founding.
The application period is from February 25 to March 10, 2026, and applications can be submitted by mail or email through the East Coast Industrial Research Institute Foundation. Detailed information is available in the notices and announcements section on the Uljin County website.
Following support provided last year for six teams comprising a total of seven young entrepreneurs, the county plans this year to continue not only funding support for startups but also various settlement policies for young people, including support for moving expenses, monthly rent for youth, and acquisition of professional certifications.
An Uljin County official said, “By discovering startup items that reflect local characteristics and providing stable initial settlement support, we will create a startup ecosystem in which young people can stay and grow.”
At a time when the crisis of regional extinction is intensifying, support for youth startups is being evaluated as a core strategy that goes beyond simple job policy to simultaneously drive the transition of local industrial structures and the improvement of living conditions. In regions like Uljin, which are rich in marine, tourism, and agricultural and fishery resources, regionally specialized startups have strong potential to directly translate into regional brand competitiveness. It is expected that, if continuous financial support is organically combined with market access, mentoring, and settlement assistance, the tangible outcomes of youth startup policies will become even more visible.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
