An aerial view of the Jukdo Training Center operated by the Small and Medium Enterprise Revival Institute in Hansan-myeon, Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. [Small and Medium Enterprise Revival Institute]
An aerial view of the Jukdo Training Center operated by the Small and Medium Enterprise Revival Institute in Hansan-myeon, Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. [Small and Medium Enterprise Revival Institute]

Open to small business owners, entrepreneurs and the general public facing hardship

2-week residential program runs Oct. 17–31 at Tongyeong's Jukdo center; 25 spots available on first-come basis

200,000-won fee fully refunded upon completion; 34 sessions held over 16 years

A two-week residential program designed to help people rebuild their lives after business failure or personal trauma will be held on Jukdo island in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, offering participants a structured retreat to restore their mental health and map out a new direction.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Revival Institute announced Monday it is accepting applications for its 2026 New Start Hope Academy. The program is open not only to small and medium-sized enterprise owners, small business operators and the self-employed, but also to members of the general public seeking a fresh start.

The program will be held at the institute's Jukdo Training Center in Hansan-myeon, Tongyeong. The first session runs from Oct. 17 to Oct. 31, with applications closing Oct. 10. Enrollment is limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

The participation fee is 200,000 won ($144) per person, fully refunded upon completion. The curriculum covers emotional healing and psychological recovery, meditation and self-discovery, self-esteem rebuilding and life redesign, wellness experiences, and expert mentoring and coaching.

The program focuses on psychological recovery and restoring participants' will to try again, rather than on business management techniques or financial support for relaunching a venture. People exploring a new career path due to business difficulties, or those who need help returning to daily life after a personal crisis, are also encouraged to apply.

The institute received government accreditation as a nonprofit public-interest foundation in 2011 and has since operated a range of comeback support programs. Over 16 years through this year, it has run 34 sessions under various names — including a restart healing camp and a small business owners' comeback camp — graduating 539 participants in total.

"This program is for anyone going through a difficult time because of business failure or a life-altering shock," an institute official said. "We hope many people who want to heal their hearts, restore their bodies and minds, and prepare for a new beginning will apply to join us on Jukdo — the island of revival — in Tongyeong."


hong@heraldcorp.com