Jung Woo-yoon, head of external policy at Coupang Eats Services (right), and Seo Won-seok, dean of the College of Hotel and Tourism Management at Kyung Hee University, sign an industry-academia partnership agreement to promote the digitalization of traditional markets on the 11th. Photo courtesy of Coupang
Coupang (CPNG) and Coupang Eats Services (CES) are partnering with Kyung Hee University to strengthen the digital competitiveness of traditional markets, the companies said Wednesday.
Through the agreement, the two companies will launch a “Digital Commerce Challenge Project” in which university students participate in store operations for traditional market merchants who are unfamiliar with online sales. Students from Kyung Hee University’s College of Hotel and Tourism Management will take part in the project.
Selected students will support online sales activation for traditional markets by providing customized strategies for each store and customer expansion plans from the perspective of consumers in their 20s. In line with this, Coupang will provide advertising support to boost orders at participating stores.
“This project carries significant educational value in that it gives students the experience of defining and solving problems at actual industry sites,” said Suh Won-seok, dean of Kyung Hee University’s College of Hotel and Tourism Management. “We plan to continue strengthening the cultivation of field-oriented, practical talent based on industry-academia cooperation going forward.”
“This project is a hands-on program that directly implements the digital transition of traditional market stores on the ground,” said Jung Woo-yoon, head of the external policy office at Coupang Eats Services. “We will strive to provide field experience to students and substantial growth opportunities to merchants.”