Ministry of SMEs and Startups Launches SME Difficulty Reception Center Amid China's Suspension of Visa Issuance

Lee Young, Minister of SMEs and Startups.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] On the 11th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it will take urgent measures to minimize the damage to export SMEs following China's suspension of short-term visa issuance for South Korean nationals.

The Embassy of China in Korea and the Consulate General announced on the 10th via their official WeChat social media accounts that they will suspend the issuance of short-term visas for South Korean nationals visiting China for purposes including visits, commercial trade, tourism, medical treatment, and general personal matters.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will first operate an "SME Difficulty Reporting Center due to Suspension of Chinese Visa Issuance" urgently at 13 regional SME offices nationwide and the Jeju Export Support Center. They plan to monitor SMEs' difficulties in real-time and promptly review support measures with relevant government departments.

The Ministry intends to respond swiftly to ensure that the visa suspension situation does not become a major disaster for individual SMEs. On the afternoon before the visa suspension news was announced, the Ministry designated dedicated personnel at each regional SME office and activated the SME Difficulty Reporting Center. They will also conduct additional investigations into difficulties faced by companies on the ground.

A Ministry official stated, "We will establish a cooperative system with related ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Justice, and closely communicate with related associations such as the Korea Federation of SMEs to prepare response measures. Once an inter-ministerial task force is established, we will actively work to convey SMEs' difficulties and prepare support measures."

Meanwhile, the Embassy of China in Korea and the Consulate General announced that, following instructions from Chinese authorities, they have suspended the issuance of short-term visas for South Korean nationals visiting China for commercial trade, tourism, medical treatment, and general personal matters starting from the previous day.

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