Nationwide Disabled Entrepreneurs Gathered in One Place... "A Strong Force Leading the Economy"

'National Disabled Entrepreneurs Conference' Held on the 13th
Singer Kim Jang-hoon Appointed Honorary Ambassador for Disabled Business CEOs

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Disabled Business Comprehensive Support Center held the 19th National Disabled Entrepreneurs Conference on the 13th at GLAD Yeouido in Seoul.

The scene from the 2019 National Disabled Entrepreneurs Conference. Disabled Entrepreneurs Support Center website

The National Disabled Entrepreneurs Conference has been held annually since 2006 to spread the achievements of 160,000 disabled-owned businesses that generate an economic effect of 75 trillion KRW in sales and employ 540,000 people. Disabled businesses are companies owned or managed by disabled persons, and medium-sized enterprises must have a disabled employment rate of 30% or higher.

The slogan of this year's conference was "Strong Power Leading the Economy! Disabled Entrepreneurs." It was organized to highlight that disabled entrepreneurs are key players driving the Korean economy and to share the achievements and future directions of policies supporting disabled businesses.

At the Disabled Business Development Policy Vision Proclamation Ceremony, a performance was held to pledge the implementation of "true productive welfare encompassing economy + welfare," as outlined in the "1st Five-Year Basic Plan for Promoting Disabled Business Activities" announced by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in August.

During the awards ceremony, commendations were given for exemplary disabled entrepreneurs and contributors to disabled business support (21 awards), Ministerial Awards for the Disabled Startup Item Competition (11 awards), and Ministerial Commendations for Public Procurement Supporters (6 awards). Yuseonghee, CEO of Hansan Hangari Sogokju, who received the exemplary disabled entrepreneur award, was designated a Korean Intangible Cultural Heritage Master through traditional succession and technology development, including patenting improvements to traditional liquor. Jang Hojin, CEO of Hyundai GF Holdings, was commended in the disabled business support contributor category for donating a total of 300 million KRW over three years, contributing to the establishment and solid operation of "Gachimandso," specialized workplaces for people with developmental disabilities in Gwangju, Jinju, and Asan.

Jeonnam Development Corporation, selected as an outstanding institution for public procurement of disabled business products, purchased 5.4 billion KRW worth of disabled business products last year, achieving a public procurement rate of 6.1%, which is six times the mandatory ratio (1%). The grand prize winner of the Disabled Startup Item Competition, "Forets," was awarded for its real-time driver monitoring application item that prevents traffic accidents based on artificial intelligence (AI) gaze tracking technology.

Singer Kim Janghoon was appointed as the honorary ambassador for disabled business CEOs. Ambassador Kim plans to carry out various activities to promote policies supporting disabled businesses.

In the second part, an IR pitching and consultation session was held to expand investment, exports, and exchanges for disabled businesses, attended by nine investment firms including Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Hanwha Investment & Securities, as well as eight global buyers from six countries including Mongolia and Algeria.

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