Jinju Pushes for National Korea Entrepreneurship Center Backed by Parliament

Jinju City asked South Korea's National Assembly on Sept. 29 to back a national institution dedicated to preserving and spreading the country's entrepreneurial heritage, which the city brands as "K-entrepreneurship."

Mayor Jo Kyoo-il met Rep. Kim Sung-won, chairman of the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, in Seoul to seek parliamentary support for establishing the proposed Korea Entrepreneurship Center in Jinju, the city government announced the same day.

Jo argued that a national-level institution is needed to preserve the legacy of South Korea's entrepreneurs and pass their values to future generations. The city positions itself as a natural home for the project on historical grounds.

"Jinju is a city of historical and symbolic significance where the entrepreneurial spirit of the founders of some of South Korea's leading global companies originated," Jo said.

Why Jinju claims the 'K-entrepreneurship' brand

Jinju and the surrounding western South Gyeongsang Province region produced founders who built some of the country's largest business groups, including Samsung, LG, and Hyosung, according to the city's announcement.

"K-entrepreneurship, which emphasizes respect for people and the value of community, is a valuable asset that laid the foundation for South Korea's economic growth," Jo said. "We need a national-level platform to systematically carry on this legacy and nurture future innovators."

What would the Korea Entrepreneurship Center do?

Jo said the proposed center would not function as a conventional exhibition or memorial facility. Under the city's plan, the center would operate as a comprehensive national hub with several mandates:

• Entrepreneurship education and hands-on training programs
• Support for startups
• Research promotion
• International exchanges

The scope signals Jinju's ambition to host an operating institution with ongoing programs, not a static museum dedicated to the founders of the country's major conglomerates.

What did the parliamentary chairman say?

Kim Sung-won expressed support for the initiative, according to the Jinju city government.

"The establishment of the Korea Entrepreneurship Center is a meaningful project that will pass the values of South Korea's entrepreneurial spirit on to future generations," Kim said.

"The National Assembly will take an active interest and provide support so that the project can proceed smoothly and contribute to creating new engines of future growth."

Kim's statement stops short of a funding commitment. It nonetheless gives Jinju a public endorsement from the chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over startup and SME policy, the same committee that would review any related legislation or budget items.

How will the project be funded?

Jinju has held discussions with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and other government agencies to secure state funding, the city said. No budget figure, timeline, or site plan has been disclosed.

The city said it plans to strengthen cooperation with the National Assembly and the central government to obtain the necessary funding and move the project forward.

The next test for the initiative will be whether those ministry talks convert into a concrete allocation in future government budgets, and whether Kim's committee translates its stated support into legislative action.