Will the 'Uncomfortable Cohabitation' Among Small Business Groups End? New President to Be Elected by the End of This Month

Sogongyeon Moves to Elect New President... Successor to Chairman Bae of 'Girl Group Drinking Party Workshop'
Two Attempts at Presidential Election This Year... Thwarted by Court Ruling
Chairman Bae and Emergency Committee 'Two Families Under One Roof'... Accelerating Organizational Normalization After Election

Press Conference Urging the Legislative Approval of Retroactive Application of Loss Compensation for Small Business Owners
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Ryu Hyorim = Kim Imyong, Acting President of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, is speaking at the press conference urging the legislative approval of retroactive application of loss compensation for small business owners held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th. 2021.4.26
ryousanta@yna.co.kr
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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Junhyung] The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises will elect a new president at the end of this month. Attention is focused on whether the "uncomfortable coexistence" between President Bae Dongwook, who faced internal conflicts last year due to the 'dance party controversy,' and the members of the Federation can come to an end. The Federation has stated its intention to accelerate organizational normalization starting with the election of the next president.

According to the Federation on the 7th, the association will elect its 4th president through an election on the 31st of this month. Earlier, the Federation closed candidate registration on the 5th. As a result of the candidate registration, Oh Sehee, president of the Korea Makeup Beauty Association, and Kwon Hyukhwan, director of the Korea Skin Beauty Cooperative, will compete for the new president position.

Last year, the Federation impeached the 3rd president, Bae, and attempted to hold new presidential elections twice this year. This was because President Bae was dismissed by the Federation's Emergency Response Committee due to last year's 'girl group drinking party workshop' controversy. The Federation's labor union also filed a complaint with the prosecution, raising allegations such as forgery of official documents, favoritism toward family businesses, and employee oppression. President Bae's side also announced plans to consider legal action, intensifying the internal strife.

The court ruled in favor of President Bae due to procedural defects. In March, the Seoul Central District Court partially accepted an injunction suspending the effectiveness of the Federation's extraordinary general meeting that decided to dismiss President Bae. Additionally, in April, the court also granted an injunction prohibiting the holding of the regular general meeting for electing a new president.

Maintaining his position as president, Bae made a 'comeback' to the Federation. This means that the labor union, which is engaged in legal battles with both the Emergency Response Committee and President Bae's side, now has to coexist uncomfortably with President Bae.

Chairman Bae Dong-wook Finishes Clarification Press Conference
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Do-hoon = Bae Dong-wook, chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, is leaving the press room after finishing a clarification press conference on the so-called 'Dance Workshop' held last month at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 14th.
Chairman Bae apologized for the controversy but stated he will not resign. 2020.7.14
superdoo82@yna.co.kr
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The issue was 'trust.' According to industry sources, about 80% of the Federation's employees are union members. This means that most internal members do not trust President Bae. The resentment between President Bae and the Emergency Response Committee has not been fully resolved, turning the Federation into 'two families under one roof.' Given this situation, President Bae's leadership was inevitably minimal. A Federation official stated, "What authority can a president have if the employees do not follow him?" and added, "I believe that President Bae effectively had no real authority within the association."

The Federation is expected to resolve the internal conflicts that have continued since last year through this election. The upcoming presidential election at the end of this month is a schedule agreed upon by both President Bae's side and the Emergency Response Committee, according to the Federation. However, the election is expected to be fiercely competitive, narrowed down to a factional battle between Director Kwon, classified as a close associate of President Bae, and President Oh, who is from the opposing faction.

The Federation plans to accelerate organizational normalization through the election of the next president. Small business owners have been experiencing unprecedented difficulties due to the impact of COVID-19, but the Federation was unable to actively implement various measures due to internal conflicts. Some have criticized the Federation for failing to properly represent the voices of small business owners as a legally recognized economic organization. Another Federation official said, "The election is being held to resolve the division," and added, "Since the president will be elected through an agreed general meeting, legitimacy is guaranteed, and internal conflicts are expected to be concluded."

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