Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee (third from left) and other district officials celebrate winning two Ministry of Employment and Labor minister awards at the 2026 National Local Government Jobs Competition. [Gwanak-gu]
Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee (third from left) and other district officials celebrate winning two Ministry of Employment and Labor minister awards at the 2026 National Local Government Jobs Competition. [Gwanak-gu]

Seoul's Gwanak-gu won Ministry of Employment and Labor minister awards in two categories — job disclosure and outstanding project — at the 2026 National Local Government Jobs Competition on Wednesday, the district announced Friday.

The district created a total of 13,754 jobs last year, exceeding its target by 111.8 percent. It also secured 16 billion won ($11.4 million) in central government funding and 21 billion won in Seoul Metropolitan Government funding by participating in competitive grant programs run by central ministries and the city, directly creating 8,217 jobs through those resources.

In the disclosure category, the district was recognized for five consecutive years of selecting the largest number of Donghaeng job program participants among Seoul's autonomous districts, becoming the first city in South Korea designated as a youth-friendly city, and being the only Seoul autonomous district chosen for three Ministry of Employment and Labor national grant-funded labor projects. In the outstanding project category, the Gwanak S-Valley innovative startup ecosystem development project earned recognition. Gwanak-gu had previously established the Gwanak Small and Medium Venture Promotion Agency — the first dedicated support institution for venture and startup companies among Seoul's autonomous districts.

The district currently provides physical hubs through 17 startup support facilities — including the Nakseong and Sillim venture startup centers — as well as private shared offices, with roughly 3,000 workers employed across about 680 resident companies. Last year, companies based in Gwanak S-Valley posted sales of 48.2 billion won and attracted 23.9 billion won in investment. The district also strengthened startup capacity by establishing a fund worth 31.6 billion won and nurturing 19 companies selected for the TIPS program. Working with Seoul National University, the district is advancing a campus town project and has secured 15.8 billion won in city funding over 10 years through 2029. It is also pushing to have the area designated as a Gwanak S-Valley R&D venture and startup special development promotion zone, targeting next year for the designation.

"This award is a truly meaningful and honorable achievement — full recognition from the outside world of everything our district has worked toward," District Mayor Park Jun-hee said. "Going forward, we will do our utmost to create quality jobs by successfully advancing Gwanak S-Valley 3.0 to build a Gwanak-style startup ecosystem, upgrading public employment programs and revitalizing the social economy."


cook@heraldcorp.com