Small and Medium Business Ombudsman Extends Application Period for Government Award for Regulatory Innovation

Extended Until June 5

The Small and Medium Business Ombudsman announced on May 11 that it would extend the application period for nominations for the "2026 Government Award for Regulatory Innovation in SMEs" in order to discover individuals and organizations with outstanding achievements in regulatory innovation.

The application deadline, originally set for May 8, has been extended to June 5. This second round of recruitment is not limited to any specific industry or occupational group; rather, it was decided to broaden opportunities for participation by unsung contributors who have led regulatory improvements in a wider range of fields, including new industries and regional on-site issues. In particular, the Ombudsman plans to actively identify and honor those who have resolved obstacles in new industries—such as artificial intelligence (AI)—so that their development is not hampered by outdated practices or regulations.

This award targets individuals and organizations that have contributed to uncovering and resolving hidden regulations in the business sector. Last year, exemplary cases such as the "Establishment of Subcontract Payment Price Linkage Contract Standards" and the "Identification of Core Regulations in New Industries" were recognized. This year, a more diverse range of field-oriented regulatory innovation cases is expected to be submitted.

Detailed information on eligibility requirements and application procedures can be found on the official websites of the Small and Medium Business Ombudsman, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Republic of Korea's official honors website. Ombudsman Choi Seungjae stated, "With this extension of the announcement period, we ask for your interest and recommendations so that more unsung heroes in a broader range of fields can be actively discovered."

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