Minister Oh Young-joo Holds the Year's Final 'Small Business Owners' Practical Policy Consultation Meeting'

Fulfillment of the Promise to Hold 12 Events per Year

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 27th that it held the 12th 'Small Business Owners' Wise Questions and Practical Answers Policy Council' at the Small Business Federation Digital Education Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The Small Business Owners' Wise Questions and Practical Answers Policy Council was launched to fulfill Minister Oh's first pledge during his candidacy, which was to establish a regular consultation body for small business owners.

Starting with the first policy council in January, Minister Oh held a total of 12 policy councils throughout the year, averaging one per month. Approximately 500 small business owners attended the 12 policy councils, with a total meeting time exceeding 1,200 minutes.

As the first agenda of this policy council, outstanding cases among the suggestions made throughout the year were shared and awarded. The first outstanding case was proposed by Jiyujeong, CEO of Daejeon Station Meat, who suggested the need for support to reduce the management burden caused by work gaps during childbirth for small business owners. In response to this suggestion, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups improved the Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid by adding 'childbirth' as a reason for interest-free loans and deferral of mutual aid premium payments.

Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Photo by Jin-hyung Kang aymsdream@

The second case was proposed by Jang Yewon, CEO of 1015 Company. She suggested the need to relax industry restrictions when registering as an Onnuri gift certificate merchant. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups amended the Enforcement Decree of the Traditional Market Act to reduce the restricted merchant industries from 40 to 29 types, which has been in effect since September. The final case was proposed by Jung Kyungjae, Chairman of the Korea Accommodation Industry Association. In response to the suggestion to expand the influx of foreign workers in the accommodation industry, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has requested the Ministry of Employment and Labor to expand the accommodation industry’s eligibility under the Employment Permit System (E-9) and has been promoting consultations with related ministries.

During the meeting, future policy directions were also discussed. So far, through 12 policy councils, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has discussed major issues and countermeasures such as the management cost burden on small business owners and regulations related to business operations. Starting next year, the ministry plans to further strengthen on-site communication functions through 'Wise Questions and Practical Answers Season 2.' Discussions will focus more closely on topics relevant to on-site small business owners, such as industry-specific difficulties, regionally focused challenges, and livelihood-related damages. Additionally, expert groups in various fields including policy and system management, business stability and recovery support, digitalization and export promotion, and small business scale-up will be formed to actively involve industry experts according to the issues of each session.

Minister Oh said, “Through 12 Wise Questions and Practical Answers councils this year, we have once again confirmed that the voices from the field must be the starting point and center of policy,” and “We will continue to promote the Wise Questions and Practical Answers Policy Council next year to create policies that small business owners can truly feel on the ground.”

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