Press

Local Small Business Owners and Aspiring Entrepreneurs Matched for Win-Win Cooperation Fleamarket with Local Creators and Shared Store Challenge Events Planned for Official Opening on September 24 "Creating New Flavors for Jeongeup" UnderDogs, a startup education specialist company led by CEO Cho Sang-rae, opened the doors to 'JoinJeongeup Shared Store' on the 20th, a space for local startup entrepreneurs and small business owners located near Samgoheul Market on Cheonbyeon-ro in Jeongeup. The opening ceremony was attended by UnderDogs CEO Cho Sang-rae, SK Nexillis CEO Lee Jae-hong, Jeongeup Mayor Lee Hak-soo, and new regional operators. The JoinJeongeup Shared Store was created as part of 'Joy'n Jeongeup' (JoinJeongeup), a regional revitalization project promoted by SK Nexillis, Social Solidarity Bank, and UnderDogs to foster mutual prosperity and development in the local community. Operating as pop-up stores supporting local small business startups, branches 1 and 2 have been in operation, and starting this September, both will meet Jeongeup citizens with a new concept called 'Shared Store 2.0,' embodying the spirit of 'mutual prosperity and cooperation.' Shared Store 2.0 selected aspiring entrepreneurs with entrepreneurial aspirations within the Jeongeup region as new regional operators. To strengthen sustainability, successful local small business owners with proven operating systems were matched to strengthen startup competencies and share operational experience, enabling practical mutual prosperity and cooperation. Accordingly, Shared Store Branch 1 welcomed 'Namdo Kimbap,' which incorporates the region's unique food culture into snacks, under the name 'Jeongeup Kimbap.' Branch 2 saw the launch of 'Jeongeup Bread Cafe,' a new brand by social enterprise 'Cheonnyeon Nuri,' which presents Jeonju bibimbap in bread form. Both stores will showcase menus unique to Jeongeup, utilizing local specialties such as Korean beef, oats, blueberries, Korean thistle, and ssanghwa tea. Meanwhile, Shared Store Branch 3, which opened in April, was established as a 24-hour shared office space for local entrepreneurs and creators, operating as a space where regional creators and entrepreneurs can freely work anytime and as an event venue. "While various efforts continue to respond to regional decline, fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem can be a breakthrough," said Cho Sang-rae, CEO of UnderDogs. "We will work hard to provide diverse support and growth opportunities for local small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in the region, like JoinJeongeup Shared Store." Shared Store 2.0 will begin soft opening following the celebration ceremony and commence official operations from Saturday, September 24. To commemorate the official opening, a fleamarket with direct participation from Jeongeup's local creators and Shared Store Challenge events will be held. For details about the events, visit the official JoinJeongeup Instagram account.