Jungnang-gu breaks ground on startup support center complex

Jungnang-gu held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for its Jungnang Startup Support Center complex project, marking the formal start of construction aimed at building a local startup ecosystem and securing new growth engines for the district.

The center, to be built at 195-3 Sinnae-dong, is a joint project between Jungnang-gu and the Seoul Housing & Communities Corp. (SH Corp.). With a total investment of 75.5 billion won ($55.7 million), the facility will span two below-ground floors and 12 above-ground floors, with completion targeted for the second half of 2028.

The center is designed as a startup-focused mixed-use facility where young entrepreneurs can grow their businesses alongside investors and local residents. By combining startup support functions with community amenities under one roof, it will serve as a hub for nurturing startups and supporting business activity in the area.

The complex will also share industrial infrastructure with a nearby knowledge industry center to facilitate inter-company exchange and cooperation. Jungnang-gu plans to develop the area around the Sinnae interchange into a key industrial innovation cluster for northeastern Seoul, with the startup center at its core.

The Jungnang Startup Support Center runs more than 100 tailored education, consulting and networking programs annually to support tenant companies at every stage from launch to growth. In 2025, tenant companies were selected for four government-backed support programs, and 14 firms filed or registered a combined 43 intellectual property rights.

"I hope the Jungnang Startup Support Center becomes a launchpad where young people with innovative ideas can pursue their dreams and grow in Jungnang," District Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi said. "We will build this combined startup and community facility safely and without delay to create a vibrant economic Jungnang."