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prolog
① Top 10 Keywords for Korean Self-Employment in 2026
Store revitalization, sheltered shopping districts, and massive expansion… The self-employed ecosystem is changing - Noh Seung-wook, CEO of Changtok
② Franchise trends based on multi-store ratio
"Auto stores" are struggling... Multi-store rates drop, but recession-prone industries and top brands hold on - Na Geon-woong, Maeil Business Newspaper reporter

PART 1 Industry

① Top 5 Startup Ideas to Watch in 2026
Unlimited meat, bagels, and scalp care: Dark Horse: Lee Cheol-ju, CEO of Jangsa Manse
② BLF analysis and store regeneration
Brands that are "failing" to survive rapid changes in trends must focus on steady sellers and outsource innovation - Noh Seung-wook, CEO of Changtok
③ Meat restaurant
"Awl Strategy" to Differentiate Meat Restaurants: Focusing on Meat Varieties, Kimchi, and Side Dishes - Song Chang-yeol, CEO of Railroadside Omaksa-li & Ubaek Galbi
④ Meat restaurant
"Raw Meat Competition": Targeting Niche Markets with "Seasoned Meat" - Kim Hyun-soo, CEO of Restaurant Management
⑤ Convenience store
As convenience stores become a "blood ocean" beyond oversaturation, employee expertise must be strengthened to expand their role - Jin Gyu-hoon, owner of 15 convenience stores
⑥ Cafe
How independent cafes survive the low-price coffee flood - Jeon Ki-hong, CEO of Lee Moon-dong Bagel
⑦ Dessert
Storybite, Mindpick, and Omnivore Dessert Purchase Decision Formula Changed - Eunseong Lee, CEO of Sinbad and Daeha
⑧ Unmanned startup
"High labor costs? Just don't hire employees." Various unmanned stores to watch in 2026 - Na Geon-woong, Maeil Business Newspaper reporter

PART 2 Commercial Area

① 2025 Foreigner Commercial Area Map
My favorite shopping district remains Myeongdong, but K-fashion mecca Seongsu sees the largest increase - Maeil Business Newspaper reporter Na Geon-woong and Maeil Business Newspaper reporter Choi Chang-won
② Store relocation know-how
2026 is the golden age of store relocation. Move to the "vacancy crisis." - Kim Min-seong, CEO of Kim & Choi Employment & Entrepreneurship Research Institute
③ Hot place commercial district
The Paradox of Hot Places: "Narrow Your Target": If You Target Everyone, No One Will Come - Choi Sung-min, CEO of Betbung
④ The collapse of the omnipotence of position
Stores with long lines even in ordinary locations overcome location limitations with the power of "content" - Lee Hong-gyu, CEO of Rich Startup School
⑤ Opening a large store
"Large, suburban stores with high sales and easy decorating" are on the rise - Seo Oh-seok, CEO of Donkaseu Ondo
⑥ Restoration know-how
(Self-employed business owners, where the "end" is more important than the "beginning," consider the "restoration" of their original business location - Choi Jae-hyung, CEO of Kim & Choi Employment & Entrepreneurship Research Institute)

PART 3 MARKETING

① Senior Marketing
Senior housing and daycare also show promise as seniors are attracted to exercise and hobbies - Hwang Su-yeon, adjunct professor of food service management at Le Cordon Bleu, Sookmyung Women's University
② AI Marketing Automation
Optimizing Places with AI Marketing GPT Bots to Double Sales - Kim Kyung-moon, CEO of Nomad Mountain
③ Increase sales with AI
From brand planning to virtual reality (VMD) production, AI is also the trend in F&B marketing - Yang Seong-wook, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Space Contents Food (SCF).
④ Display
The wall is a branding space. Complete the interior with a media wall - Joo Hyun-tae, CEO of Palms
● Expert Survey
A survey of business experts reveals five changing business strategies for the "new normal" of heat waves - Noh Seung-wook, CEO of Changtok
⑤ Space cost
Customers are drawn to "space." Increase your "space cost." - Yang Seung-il, CEO of Yukpung, Changsimgwan, and Shabumil
⑥ Branding
The Secret to Ma Bok-rim's Tteokbokki Dominance: Become a Brand, Boss - Bae Moon-jin, CEO of JD Branding
⑦ Premium branding
Does a higher price automatically mean a premium? Consumers read the "species" first - Lee Moon-kyung, CEO of Heavy Steak

PART 4 ​​OPERATION

① Kitchen optimization
Sushi machines, frying robots, automated woks... Robotic kitchen automation through examples - Min Kang-hyun, CEO of Restaurant Success Association
② Negotiation of royalties
6 Secrets to Lowering Key Money: Checking the Price from All Sides, Negotiating Small Concessions, and More - Yang Deok-woo, CEO of Storedy
③ Food Tech
In the era of mandatory food tech subscriptions, stores must consider the "appropriate technology" - Lee Man-jae, CEO of Goban Partners
④ Human resource management
From recruitment manuals to work checklists, our employee management system aims to streamline labor costs – Lee Min-woo, CEO of Shabzio
⑤ Soaring raw material costs
"Low margin, high volume" sales are no longer possible: Food suppliers warn - Kim Myeong-jin, CEO of Linkup Biz
⑥ Re-starting a business know-how
The key to a successful re-entrepreneurship is to reflect on "Why I Failed" - Jeong Ye-hee, CEO of Again
⑦ Data Management
Don't trust your gut. The power of data prevents failure. - Lee Jae-chang, CEO of Jangsa Preparation Research Institute

PART 5 GLOBAL

① American franchise
South Korea's self-employed businesses are becoming increasingly polarized, evolving into those with capital, know-how, and connections. Noh Seung-wook, CEO of Changtok, is becoming increasingly polarized.
② Promising Japanese items
Top 6 Japanese Restaurant Items to Watch in Korea in 2026 - Nemo, Japanese Gourmet Writer
③ Japanese self-employed
Let the system, not the CEO, manage. Manuals and employee training create long-lasting stores. - Seo Dong-guk, CEO of Gyeong Company