VR Accelerating
Korean start-ups will be able to utilize the Facebook platform and get support for creating new technology content such as virtual reality (VR) contents when they make a foray into overseas markets.
On November 15, Facebook Korea said that the company created a business hub center in its office in Teheran Road, Seoul. Facebook's first Business Hub Center in Asia is a space that supports technology and marketing so that startups can use the platform to enter global markets. The Korean corporation of the multinational social network company will conduct practical online marketing training such as full-scale Facebook advertisement production techniques beginning next year.
In particular, virtual reality (VR) animation experts will be invited to the center’s production studio with advanced equipment such as Oculus Lift and a controller from Oculus Headquarters. They will give VR content production education including how to develop Oculus-based games.
“It is education and training that Facebook focuses on through its business hub,” said Dan Neary, vice president of Pacific Asia at Facebook. “It is our role to help any company to use the Facebook platform.”
According to Facebook, globally 69 million people are connected to one or more Korean companies through Facebook, and 65% of Korean users are linked to one small company. In fact, 3CLAPS, a Dongdaemun garment firm in Korea is chalking up more than 60% of its sales through Facebook.
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning supports VR production by small businesses and start-ups along with Facebook. In the meantime, the ministry is pursuing various policies such as core technology development, human resources training, VR cluster creation and VR-specialized fund by investing a total of 405 billion won for five years in fostering the VR industry. The government is carrying forward the creation of a related ecosystem such as selecting VR and augmented reality (AR) as a national strategic project.