KT&G and Korea SMEs and Startups Agency Sign MOU to Revitalize Local Economies and Foster Youth Entrepreneurship
Public-private partnership strengthened with KOSME to support youth entrepreneurship
and regional businesses
사진설명
KT&G signed a business agreement with KOSME to revitalize local economies and foster youth entrepreneurship. Shim Young-ah, Chief of KT&G ESG Management Division (left), and Lee Chang-seop, Executive Director of Planning and Management at KOSME (right), are seen posing for a photo after signing the agreement on April 24.
On April 24, KT&G (CEO Bang Kyung-man) and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (Chairman Kang Seok-jin, hereinafter “KOSME”) signed a business agreement at KT&G SangSang Planet in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, to promote local economic revitalization and foster youth entrepreneurship.
The signing ceremony was attended by eight officials, including Shim Young-ah, Chief of KT&G ESG Management Division, and Lee Chang-seop, Executive Director of Planning and Management at KOSME. Under this agreement, the two organizations plan to collaborate on initiatives to revitalize local economies and support youth-led startups.
The two parties also plan to support pop-up stores, exhibitions, and social media promotions for regional youth startups identified and fostered by KOSME. Through these efforts, they aim to help revitalize local economies by enhancing brand awareness and expanding sales channels for local businesses.
The partnership will also extend to youth entrepreneurship support initiatives. KT&G plans to facilitate networking opportunities between participants in its youth entrepreneurship program, SangSang Startup Camp, and graduates of KOSME’s Youth Startup Academy, while also supporting business growth and strengthening the startup ecosystem.
Shim Young-ah, Chief of KT&G ESG Management Division, stated, “This public-private partnership was launched in response to the growing importance of fostering youth entrepreneurship and revitalizing local economies. We will continue supporting young entrepreneurs and contributing to sustainable job creation and the expansion of social value.”
KT&G SangSang Startup Camp was established to provide practical support for early-stage social innovation entrepreneurs. From 2017 through last year, the program operated nine cohorts and supported 182 startup teams. As of last year, participating startups had recorded cumulative sales of KRW 31.4 billion and attracted KRW 13.1 billion in investment. In recognition of these achievements, KT&G received the Presidential Citation for Contributions to Job Creation in 2022 and the Presidential Citation for Contributions to the Social Economy in 2021.