South Korean entrepreneur crafts success amid push for coordinated growth

For Kim Jun-bum, an entrepreneur from the Republic of Korea who lives in Beijing, China presents an ideal opportunity to pursue his dreams.

Having spent many years living in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Kim has witnessed its coordinated development and progress firsthand.

"In recent years, I have been to many places in China due to my entrepreneurial pursuits," he said. "Driven by Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, which are close to Beijing, are experiencing great advancements."

Kim first came to China about 13 years ago. He studied at Peking University and enrolled in Chinese language classes. After graduating, he established a company in Beijing's Zhongguancun area, known as "China's Silicon Valley", to help more foreigners start businesses in China.

In recent years, he has focused on business related to economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and the ROK.

As a key national strategy of China, the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has not only brought real convenience to the work and life of Chinese and expats but has also injected a strong impetus for regional economic development and provided more opportunities for Chinese and foreign youths who come here to work and start businesses, according to Kim.

Kim, who majored in management, launched his business in China in 2019.

"Thanks to the innovative local entrepreneurial policy, not only was my company registration process simplified, but rental costs were also reduced," he said. "With the support of local authorities in Zhongguancun and Beijing, I also obtained an entrepreneurial visa."

With the increasing internationalization of Beijing's business environment and the advancement of coordinated development in the region, more and more foreigners want to start businesses in the region, Kim said.

"We now provide consulting services to foreign startups and entrepreneurs by holding entrepreneurship seminars and serving as keynote speakers. We explain the policy advantages of different regions, encourage foreign startups to come to China and help foreign entrepreneurs settle into incubators and establish businesses," Kim explained.

"In my eyes, Zhongguancun is the 'center of Chinese startups'. Here, I feel the vibrant vitality of innovation," he added.

As a whole, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has deeply promoted the coordinated development of science and technology innovation, and cooperation between upstream and downstream industries in their industrial chains continues to strengthen. By the end of 2023, the number of branches established by Zhongguancun enterprises in Tianjin and Hebei had exceeded 10,000.

The high-speed train journey from Beijing to Tianjin takes about half an hour, while driving to Hebei takes just over an hour. This coordinated transportation infrastructure has added significant advantages to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

One of the landmark projects for regional coordinated development, Beijing Daxing International Airport has provided Kim with firsthand experience of the convenience of such travel.

"Passengers can complete check-in and baggage check-in procedures at city terminals such as Caoqiao, making travel more convenient," he said.

What has further impressed Kim is the continuous optimization of Beijing's role as the nation's capital in recent years. It has striven to address urban challenges, resulting in cleaner and more pleasing surroundings, he said, adding that these efforts have also propelled the development of Tianjin and Hebei.

With the development of China's digital economy in recent years, new technologies and methods have brought new opportunities for entrepreneurial consulting and other services.

"In response to the rise of emerging service models, I have seized the opportunity to expand my business scope and registered some blog accounts on social media platforms to share China-ROK economic and cultural information and post videos that showcase the customs and traditions of various parts of China," Kim said.

In recent years, the implementation of a series of coordinated regional development strategies has contributed to China's high-quality development and high-level opening up.

"In the new year, I plan to focus on promoting industries in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and other areas. By visiting industrial parks and related projects in these places, I hope I can promote intercity exchanges and the implementation of entrepreneurial projects," Kim said.

Xinhua