Naver has announced that it plans to open a new chapter of its PartnerSquare small business centers in the bustling area of Haeundae in Busan. The 991m² open office space near Centum City is set to open at the end of May.
The center will not only provide startups with workspace, but also areas to train staff and network with others. Busan’s branch will also offer a ‘creators support program’ exclusive to its location which includes access to image, video and audio production facilities.
According to statistics Korea, 25.5% of all owner-operator businesses are located in the Gyeongsang area, while Busan makes up 7% off all small business activity nationwide. Naver has been active in the region already, with 1260 branches of its offline clothing stores ‘Style Window’ located throughout Gyeongsang Province. Stores in the province are currently leading its sales, earning 150% than the Seoul Capital Area.
In response to this trend, PartnerSquare Busan will be focused on fashion and clothing businesses, including special lectures and programs related to the industry. A spokesperson for Naver said that it will be using its experience and know-how to help competitive startups grow and enter the local economy, particularly around the Seoul metropolitan area.
Naver’s first PartnerSquare branch was launched in Seoul in May 2013, the corporation investing over 10 billion won in the project. Over the past four years, 20,000 small businesses and entrepreneurs have received support at its center in Yeoksam in all areas from marketing, to developing mobile websites.
