Nationwide tailored program recommendations, KakaoTalk alerts and local commercial district analysis — all in one place; licensing and permit public data converted into business intelligence for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs
Gangnam-gu launched a platform Monday called "Gangnam Woori Sajangnim Gihoe ON" — a one-stop service where small business owners and small and medium-sized enterprises can find government support programs tailored to their needs and explore commercial district data within the district.
It is the first service in the country to combine nationwide customized support program recommendations with a local commercial district analysis tool on a single platform.
The platform grew out of an effort to repurpose data originally collected for tax administration. Gangnam-gu had been accumulating licensing and permit records — covering restaurants, beauty salons and other businesses — through its registration and license tax assessment work. The district combined that data with information on support programs offered by the central government and public institutions to build two core services: "Tailored Support Program Alri-ME" and "Our Neighborhood Commercial District."
"Tailored Support Program Alri-ME" matches users with relevant government grant and support program announcements from across the country. The service automatically pulls the latest program listings from public data sources such as the Gijeo Madang portal, and AI analyzes each announcement's eligibility requirements and required documents. Users enter basic business information — location, industry, sales and number of employees — and the system surfaces programs that fit their profile. Gangnam-gu's own support programs are included as well.
Previously, business owners had to search through announcements from multiple agencies and check eligibility requirements one by one. With this service, they can enter their business details once and compare all applicable programs in a single view.
Users who register their business information in advance can also receive KakaoTalk notifications when newly announced programs match their profile, helping busy owners avoid missing application deadlines.
"Our Neighborhood Commercial District" repurposes the licensing and permit public data Gangnam-gu accumulated through its registration and license tax records into actionable commercial district intelligence. Linked with Seoul Metropolitan Government commercial district analysis data, the service lets users select any area on a map and instantly view the business type and operating status of individual buildings, along with past closure histories and how long each business has been in operation. Prospective entrepreneurs and existing business owners can use the tool to study the composition and trends of a given area's business mix when deciding on a location or planning their next move.
"Gangnam Woori Sajangnim Gihoe ON" is accessible through the Gangnam-gu district office website under Fields of Information → Economy and Jobs → Support Program Search/Commercial District Analysis.
Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki said many business owners struggle to find the support information they need amid busy daily schedules, even though a wide range of programs exists. "Business owners should be able to focus on running their businesses, while Gangnam-gu makes it easier and more convenient to access support programs and commercial district information," he said. He added that the district would continue to develop practical services that residents can feel in their daily lives, incorporating feedback from the field.
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