On November 19, a special lecture for women entrepreneurs organized by the Startup Support Center of Soongeui Women’s University was held at the Small Concert Hall of the university’s Music Building.

The lecture was designed to provide students with practical motivation and vision for entrepreneurship through real-life cases of women entrepreneurs. It aimed to enhance students’ entrepreneurial competencies by helping them understand the growth potential of local businesses that utilize regional resources and by expanding possibilities for entering the startup ecosystem.

The lecture was delivered by Yeo-ul Jung, CEO of Wellfish, under the theme “From Seoul to Tongyeong: A Local Business Story of a Woman Entrepreneur Who Found Opportunity in the Region.” She shared vivid firsthand experiences from her entrepreneurial journey.

Yeo-ul Jung is the founder of Wellfish, a seafood-based ready-to-eat food brand that utilizes local marine products. She has successfully supplied products to major convenience store chains in Korea and expanded exports to overseas markets including the United States, Canada, and Hong Kong. In addition, she brings over 10 years of experience as a seasoned product curator.

She also operates the Tongyeong youth village program “Island & Sea Food School (Seombada Eumsik School)”, contributing to the development of the local youth startup ecosystem. In 2020, she received the Grand Prize (Minister’s Award) at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Startup Competition.

During the lecture, Jung explained what led her to decide on local entrepreneurship in Tongyeong, the process of discovering the value of region-specific local resources, and her branding and storytelling strategies. She shared her experiences in creating a local brand that resonates with younger generations by overcoming the limitations and leveraging the potential of regional areas.

She also candidly discussed the trials and errors she faced as a young entrepreneur, including the realistic challenges of settling in a new region and starting a business. Practical insights were shared through concrete examples involving team building, funding, collaboration, and community development.

Students who attended the lecture commented, “It was an interesting and meaningful experience to hear firsthand about both the success stories and the challenges,” and “It was a special opportunity to learn about Tongyeong, which felt unfamiliar at first, and to discover valuable programs like the Island & Sea Food School while receiving practical advice on entrepreneurship.”