Ministry of SMEs and Startups Hosts '2023 Small and Medium Businesspersons Convention'

President Yoon Suk-yeol is seen clenching his fist in support after delivering an encouragement speech at the '2023 Korea Small and Medium Business Conference' held on the lawn of the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 23rd that it held the '2023 Korea Small Business Owners Convention' on the lawn in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office.

This event was held consecutively twice at the Presidential Office (Yongsan) since the opening of the Yongsan era. It is significant in that it declared a vision to create a Korea where small businesses and the national government grow together as one team.

Now in its 34th year, the Small Business Owners Convention is a festival to review the achievements of small and venture business owners who have contributed to the development of the Korean economy in areas such as jobs, exports, and social contribution, and to boost their pride.

This year’s convention slogan is "Small Businesses Running Again, Korea Growing Together." It highlights the economic history of overcoming crises that enabled Korea, devastated after the war, to rise to the ranks of the world’s top 10 economies through the devoted efforts of small and venture business owners. Looking ahead to the next hundred years, it embodies the ambition to elevate Korea to a world-class nation through the resilience of small and venture business owners and the vitality of small merchants.

This year, for the first time in the history of the Small Business Owners Convention, a pledge ceremony was held for future-generation small businesses and senior companies to grow together.

About 500 people attended the event, including President Yoon Suk-yeol, government officials, related small business organizations, distinguished small business contributors, and heads of the nine largest conglomerates. Government awards totaling 92 honors, including the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, were presented to exemplary small business owners, outstanding workers, contributors to development, and excellent organizations.

The prestigious Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit this year was awarded to Kim Ju-in, CEO of Sees Global, and Ko Seok-jae, CEO of Gyeongjin Forging. CEO Kim Ju-in devoted over 50 years to a single glove product, achieving a 20% global market share in the ski glove sector. He was recognized for pioneering the domestic development of the 'TYPE2' firefighting glove (fire-resistant glove) and for contributing to export market expansion, strengthening global competitiveness, and national economic development through the localization of glove technology. Gyeongjin Forging is a leading company in the national core industry of forging. Through continuous research and development, it secured product competitiveness and contributed to the advancement of Korea’s forging industry. Additionally, it contributed to establishing a model small business owner award through quality job creation and active social contribution activities.

During the subsequent communication session and official banquet, attended by small businesses, government officials, and large corporations, participants agreed to promote dynamic innovative growth driven by the private sector and supported by the government based on cooperation and trust among companies.

Minister Lee Young of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups stated, "Beyond ‘coexistence’ where large and small businesses cooperate, small businesses are now evolving into ‘harmony’ where they help each other and grow together, injecting vitality into the Korean economy. Through mentor-mentee human clusters between large and small businesses and among small businesses themselves, we will support the echo of this harmony to share knowledge and experience and grow together, spreading widely beyond Korea to the world."

Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, said, "The government and businesses must become one team to succeed in regulatory reform, which is the top priority of the current administration. Through the 'Raising the Vitality of Daily Life by 5℃ Campaign' led by the small business community, we will lead the expansion of efforts to revive the grassroots economy, such as purchasing Onnuri gift certificates."

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