‘Forum to spread start-up spirit across Korean society’

Global Entrepreneurship Week Korea 2015, the Korean counterpart of Global Entrepreneurship Week, kicked off Monday at The-K Hotel in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

The Korea Herald interviewed Nam Min-woo, president of the Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation, which organized the program with the Kauffman Foundation.

Following is the text of a written interview with president Nam.

Korea Herald: What is Global Entrepreneurship Week?

Nam Min-woo: The event is a week for bringing in and celebrating start-up founders and innovators to realize their ideas and promote economic growth.

The GEW first started in 2007 and since then, it has seen social innovators, researchers with entrepreneurial spirit and start-ups, with support from innovative world leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama, TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie and Virgin Group chairman and founder Richard Branson.

The GEW is held in the third week of November around the world. Last year, there were over 35,000 programs in over 160 countries.

KH: Could you explain more about GEW Korea 2015?

Nam: The Kauffman Foundation, which manages GEW, has been working together with the Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation since 2014 in an effort to spread creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.

The slogan for GEW Korea 2015 is “Open the Future for Creative Economy! Global Entrepreneurial Spirit,” and the event will see innovators and academics from over 30 countries who will help inspire Korean youths on challenges, passion, innovation and creativity, spreading the entrepreneurial spirit across Korean society.

Nam Min-woo

KH: What are the major programs for GEW Korea?

Nam: GEW Korea largely consists of a global conference, education program, planned events, a start-up contest and a group event.

The global conference includes programs such as the E-ship Roundtable with 10 embassies in Korea, the Asia Conference Entrepreneurship, Korea E-ship in Global Context and the Re-challenge Concert.

Education programs include the E.E Insight (Capacity building workshop for entrepreneurship educators) and Consortium for Entrepreneurship Educator.

Planned events include discussion events with participants such as Entrepreneurship Korea Talk Show, Startup Festa and “Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.”

There will also be various hands-on opportunities such as promotional booths, photo zones, doodlers and a corner for seniors and youths.

KH: Are there any plans after GEW Korea 2015?

Nam: We expect GEW Korea 2015 to be an opportunity to widen international cooperation on entrepreneurial spirit and raise entrepreneurship research and activities to a higher level.

The Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation will do its best to be an entrepreneurial hub of Asia and will continue to be a leader in spreading the entrepreneurial spirit.

By Sang Youn-joo (sangyj@heraldcorp.com)