Samsam M2 wins Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award at the Urban and Regional Innovation Awards

[Financial News] Real estate short-term rental platform Samsam M2 has been recognized for its contributions to balanced regional development and housing innovation.
Samsam M2 announced on the 8th that it had won the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award in the “AI Regional Vitality and Living Innovation” category at the Urban and Regional Innovation Awards, part of the 2026 Korea Urban and Regional Innovation Industry Expo. Earlier, Vice President Lee Jae-young attended the awards ceremony held during the opening ceremony on the 30th of last month at the OSCO Convention & Exhibition Center in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and shared in the joy of the award.
At the expo, Samsam M2 was highly praised for effectively connecting unused residential spaces that had been left neglected in local areas with demand for short-term stays, substantially increasing the living population.
In fact, data show that actual contracts through Samsam M2 were concluded in 84 of the 89 population-decline areas designated by the government nationwide. This demonstrates that robust demand for short-term stays of a certain duration—for business trips, study, travel and other reasons—has taken root not only in major cities but also in small cities outside the major urban centers.
The analysis is that vacant homes are being transformed into spaces that generate rental income, while tenants coming in from outside stay in the area and drive spending in everyday life, including at small businesses and on transportation, producing positive spillover effects that help revitalize local economies.
Samsam M2 CEO Park Hyung-jun said, “This award is meaningful because it recognizes our value as a new housing infrastructure that goes beyond a simple brokerage platform—one that breathes life into vacant spaces and brings people together.” He stressed, “We will continue to take the lead in building an environment where anyone can live securely in the area of their choice for as long as they need.”
[email protected] Jeon Min-kyung Reporter