Selected as 'Baeknyeon Sogongin' including Gukjeong Sayangbokjeom and Banghwa Seonbuchae Research Lab

Ministry of SMEs and Startups Adds 133 Companies This Time... 111 in First Round, 100 Last Year, Totaling 344 Companies

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] 'Gukjeongsa Tailor Shop,' the first tailor shop in Busan, and 'Banghwaseon Fan Research Lab,' a traditional fan manufacturer, have been additionally selected as 'Centennial Small Business Owners.'

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the results of the second selection of 'Centennial Small Business Owners' on the 17th, selecting an additional 133 excellent small business owners with skilled technology and growth capabilities.

Centennial Small Business Owners are selected through a comprehensive evaluation of skilled technology and growth capabilities among small business owners who have maintained their business for more than 15 years in one field with craftsmanship spirit despite harsh working conditions and rapidly changing manufacturing environments.

This selection is the second round following the one in September (111 companies selected), making a total of 244 Centennial Small Business Owners selected by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups this year, and including 100 companies from last year, totaling 344 companies.

Gukjeongsa Tailor Shop is the first tailor shop in Busan and has gained local fame, including being selected as a master craftsman in 2005. However, CEO Yang Chang-seo did not stop there; he developed highly active suits for wheelchair users and expanded manufacturing areas by developing submarine work uniforms supplied to the Navy Logistics Command. The business has been operating for 38 years this year.

Banghwaseon Fan Research Lab's CEO Banghwaseon has inherited the technology for over 50 years from his master craftsman father. CEO Bang, who has been making fans for 21 years, developed his father's fan manufacturing techniques and was designated as a cultural heritage fan artisan in Jeonbuk, becoming the only female fan artisan in Korea. In this evaluation, high scores were given for increasing the popularity of fans through operating a fan exhibition hall and experience center and securing competitiveness by establishing a modern production line.

Master craftsman Park Jae-seo of Andong Soju is the 6th traditional food master and created soju with taste and tradition using a unique three-stage fermentation technique and only domestic rice. Operating for 27 years, it has now become a representative liquor known to everyone in Korea, and recently, it has been recognized for its global competitiveness by exporting to the United States, Australia, Singapore, and other countries.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to actively nurture the selected Centennial Small Business Owners by providing certification plaques and certificates to instill pride as excellent small business owners and offering practical support such as consulting and facility improvements to ensure continuous survival and growth of the selected companies.

Park Chi-hyung, Director of Small Business Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "Excellent small business owners with outstanding technology and capabilities were selected in this second round following the first," adding, "We will continue to provide support so that Centennial Small Business Owners can grow as excellent models for small business owners."

Those who wish to apply for the Centennial Small Business Owner selection can apply online through the Small Business Plaza or at one of the 34 Small Business Specialized Support Centers nationwide.

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