The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 17th that, in collaboration with three related ministries—the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport—it has selected Busan Geumjeong District and Gangwon Yeongwol County as the final candidates for the 2025 regional sales promotion support project.
A sales planner is a professional organization that collaborates with small business owners and others to discover, plan, and execute sales strategies, taking on roles such as discovering sales opportunities, strategic planning, and identifying, educating, and investing in promising small businesses.
The regional sales vitality support project is a follow-up to the 'customized support package for population decline areas' announced last year. It aims to revitalize sales in areas of population decline and interest by supporting sales development strategies planned by the private sector in cooperation with central and local governments.
During the application period that began in April this year, a total of nine local governments applied, recording a competition ratio of 4.5 to 1. Through an evaluation committee involving private experts and related ministries, the project underwent written assessments, field evaluations, and presentations, leading to the final selections of Busan Geumjeong District and Gangwon Yeongwol County. The two selected areas will receive a maximum of 2 billion won per location, along with support connected to related ministries' projects.
Looking at the projects selected this time, the targeted area in Busan Geumjeong District is located near Pusan National University and has historically been known as a young people's street. However, due to changes in consumer behavior and the outflow of customers to other areas, the current trend shows a decrease in foot traffic and an increase in vacancy rates.
Through this project, Busan Geumjeong District plans to focus on nurturing promising youth in the area to become local creators. The project will allow them to operate their businesses in test stores established within the sales area, and if successful, programs will be provided to attract external investments. In addition, plans are in place to create trendy pop-up stores that can attract the interest of young people, aiming to transform the area into a vibrant commercial district.
The targeted area in Gangwon Yeongwol County, once a hub for community-centered commercial activities, is currently facing a decline in commercial vitality and a decrease in inflow due to aging and population outflow.
Gangwon Yeongwol County plans to create a tourism-oriented commercial area utilizing the region's natural and cultural resources, such as the Donggang River. The strategy includes developing water leisure activities and repurposing idle buildings into village hotels and cultural spaces to enhance tourists' stay duration and spending. Additionally, it intends to establish a foundation for small-scale entrepreneurs to settle by providing entrepreneurship training and shared manufacturing facilities, in connection with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's youth housing project.