▶KT&G (CEO Bok-in Baek) held the successful Sangsang Summit to establish the ecosystem of social innovative startups and discuss the support plans from the government and cooperation’s. About four hundred participants attended to show the interest in the social innovative startups suggested by SangSang Summit. (photo) discussion over ‘colleague for innovation’

KT&G (CEO Bok-in Baek) held the successful Sangsang Summit to establish the ecosystem of social innovative startups and discuss the support plans from the government and cooperation’s.

The Summit was held at the International Conference room of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry on February 28 with about four hundred participants despite the rainy weather. 70% of the participants are in their twenties and thirties which proved the interest of the youth for the social innovative startups suggested by SangSang Summit.

It was also meaningful in that the professionals from government or government-related organizations, private entrepreneurship promotion organizations, CSR team of corporations, and investors. Eunae Lee, head of Social and Economic Support Center of Seoul Metropolitan Government, Kyungsuk Lee, chairperson of Asan Nanum Foundation, Sangyeob Han, president of SOPOONG, and Jonggeol Kim, professor of Hanyang University delivered the keynote address. Each of them focused one topic among the social innovator’s social value, education for innovators, colleague for innovation and social support for sustainable innovation.

Eunae Lee said, “It’s time to think that the startup ecosystem in Korea is willing to tolerate failure. We need to seek for a solution for the co-existence of social innovation and youth startups through the power of cooperation, not competition.

Panel discussions according to the four topics followed the keynote speech. The presidents and related persons of Ashoka foundation, Baemin, Naver, Lush Korea and Seoul Innovation Park had discussions.

A related person of KT&G said, “KT&G will hold annual Summit to provide an opportunity to discuss over a diversified opinion on promoting social innovation startups. The Company will keep supporting youth startups for sustainable social ecosystem growth.