[News Story] Turning Daily Inconveniences into Niche Business Opportunities Amid Economic Downturn (June 29, 2026)

A wave of change is blowing through other areas of daily life as well. In the furniture market, where countless companies are already competing, 32-year-old entrepreneur Park Dae-hee focused on the inconvenience of traditional furniture, which is difficult to move and dispose of, and entered the niche market of paper furniture. From beds and sofas to bookshelves, a variety of furniture items are now being made from paper. They are easy to assemble and move, and can be recycled after use, attracting the attention of single-person households who move frequently and consumers who prefer eco-friendly products.

The path to entrepreneurship is not always smooth. Startups entering their third year of business face the so-called "death valley," a crossroads between survival and failure. In reality, it is more difficult for young entrepreneurs to survive three or five years after starting a business compared to other age groups. For young entrepreneurs lacking capital and experience, starting a business is becoming an increasingly difficult challenge to sustain.

Reported by Jung Jun-hyung | Written by Kim Da-yeon | Video by Choi Jun-sik | Produced by SBS Digital News