The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Minister OH Youngju) opened the 7th specialized workplace for people with developmental disabilities in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, on Tuesday, May 28.
The specialized workplace for people with developmental disabilities provides comprehensive support in establishing businesses, caring services, and even distribution channels or business marketing for people with developmental disabilities and their families, enabling them to achieve economic independence. Since 2020, it has been established and operated in seven regions nationwide, with one additional facility now building in another area.
The newly opened Asan workplace is housed in a two-story building equipped with facilities for making scorched rice and rice chips, a coffee roasting and extraction practice space, office spaces, and care facilities. It provides customized education and support for each stage of entrepreneurship, from production to sales, tailored specifically for people with developmental disabilities.
The Asan workplace features a unique facility with a studio for practicing live commerce, aligning with current online marketing trends. MSS will support a total of KRW 1.1 billion in construction costs over two years and KRW 750 million in operating costs over five years.
The specialized workplace for people with developmental disabilities enables individuals and their families to form teams and systematically complete comprehensive education and practical support over a maximum of two years. This includes foundational knowledge for establishing a business, product production techniques, and distribution channels.
In addition, participants have the opportunity to raise funds to start a business by using the income generated from production while they are in the training program. Upon finishing the training, they will continue to receive support, including consulting and assistance with distribution channels, to ensure a successful transition to independence.
The newly opened Asan specialized workplace focuses on producing processed foods such as rice chips and scorched rice, using Asan City's signature agricultural product, 'Asan Clean Rice.' The goal is to establish a sustainable economic model that promotes independence for people with disabilities and fosters mutual growth with local farmers.
The entrepreneurial families at the Asan specialized workplace plan to bring their startup vision to life with products they have conceived and developed themselves, including rice chips, scorched rice, rice snacks, sikhye, and baked rice cakes made from Asan Clean Rice.
During the opening ceremony, the Hyundai Department Store Group also held a ceremony to deliver their donation of KRW 100 million to support the operational stability of the Asan specialized workplace. The donation will be used to construct facilities and promote their products. Furthermore, this donation serves as an opportunity for collaborative efforts between the Hyundai Department Store and the Asan specialized workplace, including support for sales in the food department of the Hyundai Department Store.
Minister OH Youngju stated, "Specialized workplaces for people with disabilities are becoming role models for productive welfare, pioneering both entrepreneurship for individuals with developmental disabilities and opportunities for local specialty products." She added, "In the future, through workplaces nationwide, we hope to see more individuals with developmental disabilities and their families achieve new dreams, boldly embark on entrepreneurship, and realize their aspirations for economic independence."
Global Media Relations: Rachel Minjo CHUN
+82-(0)44-204-7104 / rachelmchun@korea.kr