The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea SMEs & Startups Distribution & Marketing Agency said on the 22nd that they newly selected two institutions—the Ulsan Economic & Job Promotion Agency and Jiyukgwa Social Biz—as implementing agencies to operate "Sodam Square," a specialized digital commerce support organization.
Sodam Square is a hub supporting digital transformation that carries the meaning of a "space that contains the stories and products of small merchants." It provides studios, filming equipment, and training programs free of charge so small merchants can conduct live commerce themselves or produce promotional content.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) earlier designated Mokpo, South Jeolla, and Cheonan, South Chungcheong, as regions to establish build-type Sodam Squares. It also allocated all operate-type projects, which will replace the Sodam Squares in Sangam and Boramae in Seoul that ended operations last year, to regions outside the capital area.
This call for applications targeted regions outside the capital area, including South Gyeongsang, North Gyeongsang, Daejeon, Sejong, Ulsan, and Jeju. After financial evaluations, on-site due diligence, and presentation reviews, the Ulsan Economic & Job Promotion Agency and Jiyukgwa Social Biz, which have small-business support infrastructure and operational capabilities, were finally selected.
The Ulsan Economic & Job Promotion Agency plans to form a consortium with the Community Media Foundation, Lotte Shopping, and Ulsan College to establish Sodam Square in Samsan-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan. In cooperation with the Ulsan Development Institute, it will support the establishment of big data-based online expansion strategies, and it also plans to run a program that provides linked support from product planning to prototype production and online sales by using Ulsan College's industry-academic cooperation model.
Jiyukgwa Social Biz will work with the Gyeongsangbuk-do Agri-Food Distribution, Education and Promotion Institute, which operates "Saiso," a sales platform for North Gyeongsang agricultural specialties, to remodel idle space inside the Gumi Chamber of Commerce & Industry and create Sodam Square. Alongside on-site live commerce featuring North Gyeongsang specialty products, it also plans to promote a project to expand online sales channels for small merchants affiliated with Onnuri gift certificates.
Lee Byeong-gweon, the second vice minister at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), said, "Including the four newly selected this year, a total of 11 Sodam Squares will be established nationwide," adding, "Going forward, we will foster Sodam Square as a hub for the digital transformation of local small merchants and support them so they can build self-sustaining capacity and grow in the digital commerce environment."