Partners sign MOU to back 'KT Y-Prep Academy'
Program to strengthen youth entrepreneurship through 'Wiroun Store'
Top graduates to receive expanded support
![Officials from KT Corp and the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation pose for a photo after signing a memorandum of understanding. From left: Ko Young-seon, head of integrated marketing at KT's Customer Business Division; Guk Seong-eun, team leader of the Alley Startup Team 1 at the foundation's Commercial District Support Department; Kim Cheol-ho, head of the foundation's Commercial District Support Department; Park Jang-hyeok, executive director of the foundation's Business Strategy Division; Kang I-hwan, head of KT's Customer Service Division; Son Chang-hwa, senior vice president of KT's Small Business Service; Kim Byeong-seong, senior vice president of KT's Customer Business Division marketing; and Park Sang-ho, head of KT's Small Business Telecommunications Service Team. [Provided by KT Corp]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/07/16/news-p.v1.20260716.24593ebf6c6d432cae41e3cbe9604b60_P1.jpg)
KT Corp has joined forces with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation to support the growth of young small-business owners.
KT Corp announced Wednesday that it signed an MOU with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation on Tuesday to support the growth of young small-business owners. Under the agreement, the two organizations will collaborate to strengthen the competitiveness of young entrepreneurs.
Specifically, the partnership will deepen cooperation between KT Corp's youth small-business program "Wiroun Store" and the Prep Academy, a food-and-beverage startup support program run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation. The initiative aims to help young entrepreneurs build stable, sustainable businesses.
In addition, the two organizations will work together across a range of areas — including branding, marketing, content production and digital capability development — to strengthen the competitiveness of youth-run stores. The Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation will identify and nurture promising young startup stores through the Prep Academy, while KT Corp will draw on its Y brand assets and marketing expertise to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
Through the collaboration, KT Corp plans to support young entrepreneurs' marketing capabilities using its Y brand infrastructure — developing brand and store designs in partnership with Y Artists, producing store introduction and review videos through Y Futurists, and promoting stores via Y Box and SNS channels.
The partnership will also help spread the social value of youth entrepreneurship. A key initiative involves producing content that documents entrepreneurs' journeys from startup preparation to store opening, highlighting successful cases. KT Corp will also use its digital solutions for small businesses to enhance trainees' digital management skills, and will continue to expand post-launch growth support.
"We pursued this collaboration to expand practical support so that young entrepreneurs can settle into their businesses and grow with stability," said Kang I-hwan, head of KT Corp's Customer Service Division. "Going forward, we will continue to leverage KT's diverse assets and capabilities to support the growth of young small-business owners and spread the value of mutual growth."
chami@heraldcorp.com
