"Bridging the Smart Work Gap for SMEs, Strengthening the Role of the Public Sector"

Chumoon Gap, Head of Economic Policy Division at Korea Federation of SMEs
Presentation at Post-Corona Era Forum

Chugumgap, Head of Economic Policy Division, Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] "While smart work is becoming widespread, it is not easy for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adapt. Strengthening the role of the public sector is necessary to bridge the gap between economic agents."

On the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the Moon Jae-in administration, Chu Moon-gap, Head of the Economic Policy Division at the Korea Federation of SMEs, who participated as a special session presenter at the discussion held on the 7th under the theme "Crisis and Opportunity in the Post-COVID-19 Era," emphasized, "As the industrial paradigm rapidly changes after the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the gap by company size is expected to deepen," adding, "Measures are needed to support the establishment of social safety nets and retraining for digital transformation."

The discussion is being held on the 7th and 8th at The-K Hotel in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, led by the Presidential Policy Planning Committee and the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences. Representatives from the Korea Employers Federation, Korea Federation of SMEs, Korea Hospital Association, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions are presenting on the impact and experiences of COVID-19, future prospects, and policy proposals.

Attending as a representative of the SME sector at this discussion, Head Chu expressed concerns about job losses among vulnerable groups due to the development of non-face-to-face and digital economies. He also mentioned the 'reshoring' of domestic companies that have expanded overseas to China, Southeast Asia, and other regions.

He stated, "In preparation for reshoring and temporary consumption surges after COVID-19, legal and institutional supplements such as complementing the 52-hour workweek system and deregulation are necessary to enable companies to actively engage in production activities using innovative technologies," adding, "If reshoring is activated, it can also create many jobs."

Head Chu also conveyed the voices from the field of SMEs affected by COVID-19. He particularly pointed out 'financial support' and 'export support' as urgent policy supplements. He emphasized, "Until the market functions normally, additional loans should be temporarily available through special guarantees separate from the existing credit guarantee limits."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.