'One Year in Office' Ombudsman Choi Seungjae Vows to Strengthen Identity as 'Representative of the Field'

Vowing to Uncover and Improve Hidden Regulations

Choi Seungjae, the Small and Medium Business Ombudsman, expressed his commitment to "improving even minor irrationalities to create a more business-friendly environment."

At a press conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration, held in Yeouido, Seoul on the 18th, Ombudsman Choi stated, "Based on the principle that the answers are found in the field, I have spent the past year visiting industrial complexes, traditional markets, and small and medium-sized enterprises across the country to listen directly to their difficulties."

Choi Seungjae, Small and Medium Business Ombudsman, is speaking at the first anniversary press conference held on the 18th in Yeouido, Seoul. Small and Medium Business Ombudsman

Since taking office, he has visited a total of 84 sites and met directly with approximately 350 small business owners and entrepreneurs, actively engaging in field activities. This represents a 25% increase compared to 65 visits in 2023. One of the most notable achievements during his term has been the complete abolition of the joint surety system. Although the system had already been officially abolished, the practice of requiring joint surety persisted in 74 local governments and institutions nationwide; through strong recommendations for implementation, most of these practices have now been eliminated, with only Uljin-gun remaining.

Ombudsman Choi commented, "While domestic companies possess excellent technological capabilities, their growth has been stifled by environmental and safety regulations." He added, "It is meaningful that, through consultations with relevant ministries, we were able to ease some regulations and give encouragement to young professionals in industries such as autonomous vehicles."

The operational approach of the ombudsman system has also changed over the past year. Previously, ombudsman committee meetings were largely formal consultations, but they have now been transformed into sessions lasting over four hours, allowing for in-depth discussion. The diversity in the backgrounds and perspectives of the committee members has created a foundation for reaching more reasonable conclusions.

Ombudsman Choi noted, "Although the number of identified regulations has increased, many cases remain unresolved due to structural limitations, such as the need for social consensus and inter-ministerial coordination." He also pointed out, "Another challenge is the confusion over the identity of the ombudsman, as it is a privately appointed position, yet the government provides budget and organizational support."

Looking ahead, Ombudsman Choi plans to further strengthen the status of the ombudsman. He intends to enhance the function of identifying and resolving issues in the field, standardize the roles and procedures of each department, and establish a rapid response system. In addition, he plans to actively promote policy proposals and achievements in institutional improvement to the public, thereby reinforcing the ombudsman's identity as a 'representative of the field.'

He stated, "Just as major regulations hinder business growth, so do minor practices," adding, "I will continue to visit the field more frequently to uncover and improve hidden regulations."

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