Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation and KT Partner to Support Young Entrepreneurs' Store Branding

The Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation and KT have joined forces, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to bolster support for young entrepreneurs and small business owners. This partnership aims to enhance the competitiveness of these emerging businesses by integrating the foundation's 'Seoul Prep Academy,' which supports prepared restaurant startups, with KT's 'Y-로운 가게' (Y-로운 Store) program for young small business owners.

The collaboration, set to be fully implemented from the fourth cohort of the 'Y-로운 가게' program, is designed to help young entrepreneurs establish a stable market presence and achieve sustainable growth. The Prep Academy, operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the foundation since 2021, provides 12 weeks of intensive training in startup theory, practical skills, and mentoring for individuals aged 19 to 39. Graduates are eligible for startup loans of up to 70 million won and consulting services.

“

This collaboration provides a stepping stone for excellent young entrepreneurs nurtured by the Prep Academy to grow further by utilizing KT's professional marketing infrastructure.

'Y-로운 가게' is a win-win program by KT's youth brand Y, connecting young creators with small business owners to offer branding and marketing support. Through this new partnership, Prep Academy graduates will receive more than just startup capital and consulting; they will benefit from customized support in store design and promotional content creation. This is expected to significantly accelerate their ability to build brand recognition, a critical challenge in the early stages of business.

Both organizations plan to collaborate closely across various fields, including branding, marketing, content creation, and digital competency enhancement, to boost the self-reliance and competitiveness of young entrepreneurs' stores. The Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation will identify and nurture promising young businesses through the Prep Academy, while KT will leverage its Y brand assets and marketing infrastructure to support their growth. Additionally, KT's small business digital solutions will be offered to all Prep Academy trainees to strengthen their digital operational capabilities.

“

We will continue to provide practical and comprehensive support to help young small business owners achieve successful startups and grow stably.