Press

Iksan City Establishes Youth Hub at Former Hanoba Hotel Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Startup Incubation and Creative Space Iksan City is making headlines with the groundbreaking ceremony for 'Iksan Youth City Hall' at the renovated former Hanoba Hotel on the 26th. The project, led by Mayor Jung Heon-yul and attended by local youth organizations and residents, marks the first such comprehensive youth policy hub in Korea. The facility will provide one-stop services ranging from employment and startup support to culture and welfare programs. The space will be divided across multiple floors: the first floor will feature recreational facilities, a book cafe for stress relief; the second floor will have study rooms and consultation offices for employment and startup counseling. Additionally, the facility will include startup incubation spaces, smart studios for individual creators, office spaces, and an honorary mayor's office. The city plans to expand the Youth City Hall's functions for smooth communication and efficient service delivery. To address youth employment challenges, Iksan is concentrating administrative resources on startup support. The 'Startup Incubating' space within the Youth City Hall will operate various support programs for prospective entrepreneurs. The city is investing approximately 2.75 billion won this year across 9 projects in 5 sectors to establish a youth startup foundation. Additionally, the 'With Local' youth technology startup support project is underway in partnership with SK E&S (Jeonbuk Energy Service) and Underdogs, an entrepreneurship education organization. They will provide business capital (up to 40 million won per team) and specialized programs. For prospective young entrepreneurs, the city provides facility funds and rental fees (up to 26 million won). Young entrepreneurs maintaining their businesses for over a year receive additional monthly rent support (up to 500,000 won for 6 months). Iksan is implementing customized policies centered on the Youth City Hall, investing approximately 5.5 billion won this year across 14 projects in 8 sectors. The city operates various employment programs through the Iksan Youth Center 'Cheongsum' in partnership with local universities. The city continues its 'Iksan-style Working Youth Allowance' program, providing 300,000 won monthly for up to three years, which has shown a 98% satisfaction rate. Other initiatives include the 'Youth Asset Building Account' and 'Youth Employment Dream Card.' Mayor Jung emphasized: "Iksan Station was once a vibrant city packed with youth. Today marks the first step toward reclaiming that legacy." He pledged to transform the Youth City Hall into an active 'youth hub' rather than merely an administrative office. "The Youth City Hall will become a space where we address young people's concerns together," Jung stated, adding that it will serve as the control tower for Iksan's youth policies. He stressed the focus on job creation and employment environments matching youth expectations. Regarding the old downtown area, Mayor Jung remarked: "The old downtown is the heart of Iksan. We will create waves of change to transform it into a workplace, living space, and playground for young people." He concluded: "Young people need self-reliance foundations and systematic support systems to pursue their dreams. We will implement comprehensive support policies centered on the Youth City Hall to help young people settle stably in our region."