8 Yeongnam Local Businesses Named 'Strong Small Businesses' After 33:1 Competition

Gyeongbuk Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (hereinafter Gyeongbuk CCEI), which leads the vitality and innovation of the local economy, has delivered good news. Eight local creators from the Yeongnam region proudly made their names in the 'Local Brand' category during the first audition for the '2025 Strong Small Business Growth Support Program'. This is a remarkable achievement, as 7,147 companies applied, making it a fierce competition with a 33:1 ratio. The companies selected this time are local creators that Gyeongbuk CCEI has diligently discovered and nurtured over a long period. Their success is also a symbolic example demonstrating a successful leap to the next stage of 'LICORN', a phased growth policy for small businesses led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (hereinafter MSS). So, what kind of program is the 'Local Creator Nurturing Program' that raised them? This program, overseen by the MSS and managed by the Small Enterprise and Market Service, aims to create entrepreneurial small businesses by infusing creative ideas and content into the unique resources and characteristics of a region. Since 2020, Gyeongbuk CCEI has operated this program, focusing on the Yeongnam region, dedicating itself to vitalizing the local economy and building a sustainable local startup ecosystem. The 'Strong Small Business Growth Support Program', from which eight companies were selected this time, is divided into five innovation types: Lifestyle, Local Brand, Long-standing Small Business, Global Expansion, and Online Seller. The selected companies will receive commercialization funds of up to 60 million won and will also gain eligibility to participate in the highly anticipated 'Final Pitching Competition' in August. Through this competition, an opportunity for additional support of up to 40 million won will also be provided. The eight companies that proved the strength of Yeongnam's local scene are: Ggulkkak House, Davi, DH International, Oyaoyat, Taegeuk Sagye, Line Deutsch, Eonyang Traditional Food, and Toomaru. A Gyeongbuk CCEI official emphasized regarding this achievement, "LICORN has a step-by-step growth structure organically connected from startup to brand building and market expansion. These eight companies are examples that have demonstrated remarkable growth within that structure." They added, "The fact that companies nurtured by Gyeongbuk CCEI are consistently standing out amidst fierce nationwide competition clearly demonstrates the infinite possibilities and tangible results of a region-led startup support model." For reference, LICORN is an abbreviation of 'Lifestyle & Local Innovation uniCORN', and it is a key nurturing policy of the MSS aimed at growing region-based small businesses into global innovative companies.