'Local alleys must thrive for the local economy to survive': Nowon-gu backs small businesses, young entrepreneurs

"Local alleys must thrive for the local economy to survive."

Nowon-gu in Seoul is rolling out a series of events aimed at expanding sales channels for small-business owners and energizing youth entrepreneurship as part of a broader push to revitalize the local economy.

The initiative is designed to give small businesses — the backbone of local commercial districts — opportunities to promote and sell their products, while connecting young entrepreneurs with investors and experts who can help turn their ideas into viable ventures.

First up is the fifth annual Soso Festival, "Sangsaeng Jangter, Ddaenggyeoyo Nowon" (a community market fair), to be held Friday and Saturday at Junggye-dong Deungnamu Culture Park.

Organized by the Nowon-gu Small Business and Micro-Enterprise Association, the event will bring together more than 50 vendors, including local small-business owners and traditional market merchants. Booths will offer agricultural specialties, food and daily goods, while resident participation programs — donation and sharing campaigns, performances, photo zones and prize draws — will round out the two-day fair.

A dedicated experience zone for the public food-delivery app Ddaenggyeoyo will support small businesses' digital transition and promote a virtuous cycle in which local spending flows back into neighborhood commercial districts. Last year's event drew about 5,000 visitors over two days.

Then, on Nov. 17, the "2026 Third Startup Entrepreneurship Expo" will be held in the second-floor grand auditorium of the Nowon-gu district office.

Co-hosted by Nowon-gu and Induk University, and jointly organized by four local universities — Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Kwangwoon University, Sahmyook University and Seoul Women's University — the expo is designed to connect local startups, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors and mentors to build a thriving startup ecosystem.

The centerpiece is the "Startup IN Competition," held in two tracks — student entrepreneurship and corporate entrepreneurship. Five teams in each track, 10 in total, will present their business plans before a panel of experts, with grand, excellence and merit prizes awarded in each category.

Robot technology demonstrations and networking sessions between entrepreneurs and mentors will also take place, creating opportunities to share technology and ideas and explore concrete collaboration.

Leading up to the expo, a Youth Entrepreneurship Week will run from Nov. 2 through Friday, featuring programs tailored to each university's strengths — a bean-themed market at Sahmyook University, a sunbae CEO startup talk show at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, a startup lecture series at Seoul Women's University, and a LEAD:Design technology flea market at Kwangwoon University.

From Tuesday through Nov. 17, a startup exhibition showcasing outstanding entrepreneurship ideas from local universities will be on display in the first-floor lobby of the district office.

"The stable operating environment for small-business owners and the bold ventures of young entrepreneurs are both precious pillars supporting the local economy," Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o said. "We will strengthen support for the management stability of small businesses and the growth of young entrepreneurs to enhance the competitiveness of the local economy."