A Dream of Unity Through Entrepreneurship, Beyond Background

The courageous challenges of those dreaming of entrepreneurship in the unfamiliar land of Korea are the protagonists of Asan Sanghoe 2025. The 'Asan Sanghoe' diversity track of the Chung Ju-yung Entrepreneurship Competition focuses on the human passion and potential hidden behind cold numbers. They are comprised of 5 teams representing North Korean defectors and immigrants, and 4 teams of foreign entrepreneurs gathered from around the world, including the US, Japan, and Taiwan, totaling 9 teams. This program goes beyond simple business support, embodying the belief that the door to entrepreneurship should be wide open to everyone. It delivers a social message that opportunities should not be blocked simply because one is a foreigner, North Korean defector, or immigrant. From plant-based foods to water sports, ESG resource utilization, inter-Korean image consulting, and beauty solutions, the business ideas they showcase are a treasure trove of creativity infused with the entrepreneurs' own experiences and cultural backgrounds. This vividly demonstrates how cultural diversity leads to innovation. Faced with barriers such as the absence of language, culture, and social networks, they struggle daily. Asan Sanghoe deeply understands this reality and goes beyond mere financial support. Through customized 1:1 incubation that considers their linguistic and and cultural backgrounds, and regular networking programs with fellow entrepreneurs, it helps them firmly establish roots in Korean society. Their business models, such as coding/design/AI education, AI marketing solutions, a North Korean defector influencer platform, and K-beauty medical tourism services, are also ways for them to reveal their individual identities and strengths to society. Asan Sanghoe is an experimental ground for social integration and a significant step in exploring the journey where diversity blossoms into creativity. It serves as a litmus test to gauge how ready our society is to embrace diverse voices. The total prize money of 59 million KRW, and matching grant support of up to 50 million KRW, symbolize the belief in and investment in the value that their challenges will bring to our entire society, beyond mere individual success. This year, the Asan Nanum Foundation expanded its scope of support through the Chung Ju-yung Diversity Track, broadening the spectrum of diversity in the startup ecosystem. The true success of this program hinges on how many people, regardless of their background, can dream of entrepreneurship and whether the social infrastructure is established to make those dreams a reality. In 2025, it plans to operate four tracks—Global, Diversity, Climate Tech, and Pre-startup—and provide even broader opportunities through an integrated demo day with a total prize pool of 400 million KRW. Although this article began and ended with numbers, it contains stories of infinite human potential and hope that cannot be captured by statistics.