▲ Senior Venture Association / President Hyangsook Shin

The Senior Venture Association held a ceremony to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of its foundation at the KBIZ Korea Federation of SMEs building in Yeouido on December 17, 2019. Around 200 renowned persons, including Migyeong Park President of the Korea Venture Business Women’s Association, Jeonggwan Han Chairman of the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, Jeongsik Lee Secretary General of the Korea Labor Foundation, and Jongwon Baek Editor of monthly <PowerKorea>, attended ceremony. On the day, the association signed a MOU with The Best Fruit to donate free fruits to the socially vulnerable. 

The Senior Venture Association is consisted of members of aged over 40 and obtained a license from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in June 2017 as a non-profit organization. The association president Hyangsook Shin said in her opening remark:

“I strongly felt the need of the association when South Korea walked into the door of the GDP $30,000 on December 2008. Looking back those times at the dawn of the year 2020, I feel sure I was right. I asked members of the association to work hard last year and we will keep searching ways for seniors to live better and confident in our society.”

In the year 2019, the association achieved three things in broad perspective: introducing senior startup hubs, fostering 50 professional lecturers, and expansion to Busan Metropolitan City and South Gyeongsang Province. The senior startup hubs in Gwangjin District and Jono District in particular were meaningful for opening the doors without a support of the government. 

The core works of the association are backing up startups, reemployment, and life time plan for senior members of the society. For this, the association is using various platforms including YouTube and action academies. 

“The 60 board members of the association are excellent individuals who have had extensive knowledge and experience in the respective fields. 10 of them are rather young and this makes us to create a great synergy effect.”

She pointed out three core missions of the year 2020: activation of senior startup, variety of activities and engagements, and improvement of public awareness on the important roles of senior members of the society. 

“These three missions of the year 2020 mean to create challenging startup culture, strengthening their capabilities and recovering their confidence. To make this happen, I and all the board members of the association will role our sleeves and work harder and more passionate this year than the previous years.”