The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 23rd it will promote the "2026 regional specialization development zone consulting support project."
A regional specialization development zone is a system that designates certain areas as regulatory special zones when a local government pursues specialized projects tailored to local characteristics, in order to revitalize the local economy. Introduced in 2004, a total of 171 zones are currently operated nationwide. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) will newly establish and introduce this year, for the first time, a "tailored consulting support project" to cultivate the zones as key hubs of region-led growth by infusing private-sector creative capabilities beyond the limits of local government-led efforts.
This project will select 10 local governments operating zones through an open call. It has established a full-cycle support system that directly links the zones with major fiscal programs of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS).
First, it will give preference in the selection evaluation to areas at risk of extinction by awarding extra points to population-declining areas and population-decline watch areas designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The system was designed so crisis areas can receive priority support.
A joint public-private support team will also provide on-site, hands-on consulting. A professional support team composed of local creators, commercial district planners, experts in fostering anchor industries, regional offices of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) will visit zone sites to conduct diagnostics. It will then help design region-tailored commercial district revitalization and specialized industry development models.
In addition, it will strengthen linkages with major fiscal programs so that the consulting results directly lead to expanded effects in revitalizing the local economy. Zones evaluated with excellent road maps can be recommended as beneficiaries of major fiscal programs such as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) projects to foster local commercial districts and city/county/district anchor industry cultivation projects, enabling them to secure growth drivers.
Local governments wishing to participate in the project should submit an official application letter and a project plan to the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) (Regional Innovation Projects Department) from the 30th to Apr. 17. For details on the announcement, check the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) or Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) websites.