Publisher
Publisher of Monthly Startup Economy, a media channel dealing with startup, small business, and local business issues.
CONSULTANT PROFILE
Consultant Profile
Jongheon Kang is the founder of K Startup Lab and works as a startup consultant, small business consultant, food business consultant, business closure consultant, educator, publisher, and field-based advisor for business owners.
Profile summary
K Startup Lab is a startup consulting brand operated by startup consultant Jongheon Kang as a sole-proprietor-based consulting service. The service focuses on practical decision-making for prospective founders, small business owners, food business operators, and business owners preparing for closure or restart.
The consulting approach is based on field experience, business operation, startup diagnosis, food service practice, small business education, media activities, and publishing.
Consulting focuses on realistic preparation, cost review, customer understanding, operation structure, marketing execution, and risk reduction.
Current roles
Head of K Startup Lab
Operates K Startup Lab as a practical startup consulting brand for founders and small business owners.
Startup consultant
Provides consulting for startup preparation, food business operation, small business improvement, and business restart.
Business closure consultant
Supports owners in reviewing loss structure, lease issues, remaining costs, facility disposal, and restart direction.
Startup mentor
Works with startup teams and founders through mentoring, screening, education, and practical feedback.
AI startup tool educator
Provides practical education on using AI tools for startup item review, marketing copy, blog writing, and review replies.
Career background
| Category | Experience |
|---|---|
| Current | Publisher of Monthly Startup Economy |
| Current | Head of K Startup Lab |
| Current | Startup consultant and business closure consultant |
| Current | Startup screening committee member at Seoul Startup Hub Gongdeok, Seoul Business Agency |
| Current | Startup mentor for SPEC, a practical startup club at Sungkyunkwan University |
| Current | Executive director at Timeweb, specializing in web programs |
| Former | Worked at food service brands and restaurants including Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel Geumryong, Neulbom Manrijangseong, and NewCore Yangjagang |
| Former | Worked with multiple food franchise and food service brands including Mom's Side Dish, Lee Chang-myung's Jajangmyeon, and Hwarodakbal |
| Former | Representative of Food Startup Research Institute |
Consulting fields
Startup consulting
Startup item review, customer analysis, cost planning, location review, and business feasibility checks.
Startup item review
Review whether a startup item can meet customer demand, market conditions, and operation capacity.
Food business menu consulting
Menu structure, pricing, cost ratio, kitchen flow, and repeat purchase potential for food businesses.
Small business marketing
Naver Place, blog, SNS, review replies, promotional copy, and local customer acquisition strategy.
Business closure consulting
Loss structure, lease contract, inventory, facilities, remaining costs, and restart direction review.
Startup education
Practical lectures for prospective founders, small business owners, food business operators, and institutions.
Major media and lecture activities
Jongheon Kang has appeared in various Korean media programs and has provided lectures for startup, small business, food business, closure, and restart education.
| Year | Activity |
|---|---|
| 2025 | KBS The Boda, KBS Current Affairs Planning Window, and KBS special broadcast on economic uncertainty |
| 2024 | MBN Field Report Special World and KBS1 Tracking 60 Minutes, covering small business and business closure issues |
| 2023 | Naver Business School lecture on store transfer, acquisition, and closure; KBS1 current affairs program appearance |
| 2021 | SBS Morning Wide, KBS2 Good Morning Korea Live, YTN coverage on struggling small business owners, and small business education lectures |
| 2020 | MBC radio, SBS 8 News, TV Chosun, Small Business Federation lectures, and Gyeonggi-do self-employed business academy |
| 2018-2019 | Small Business Broadcasting YES TV programs and KBS/SBS CNBC appearances on startup and closure topics |
| 2001-2017 | Appeared in various broadcasting programs related to food business, startup, small business management, and self-employment |
| 1998 | Lectured on food business at social education centers including Ansan University and Shinheung University |
| 1997 | KBS2 special video journal appearance on food business topics |
Media and lecture activities are summarized to show the consultant's long-term field involvement in startup, food service, small business, and closure issues.
Consulting philosophy
Do not start blindly
A startup should begin only after reviewing demand, cost, location, customers, operation capacity, and risk.
Check the numbers
Sales expectations must be compared with fixed costs, variable costs, break-even point, and working capital.
Think from the customer's side
The business must be explained in a way that customers can understand, choose, and revisit.
Prepare for exit as well
A business owner should know not only how to open, but also how to reduce losses when closing or restarting.
Consulting begins with a realistic review
K Startup Lab helps business owners and prospective founders review their ideas, costs, location, customers, operation plan, marketing direction, and business risks before making important decisions.