'2026 Korea SME Convention' Held... Kim Kimoon: "National Growth Fund Investment Needed for Traditional Manufacturing"

Over 300 Participants, Including Prime Minister Kim Minseok and Minister Han Seongsook

Chairman Kim Kimoon Stresses Innovation-Driven and Balanced Regional Growth for Major Economic Leap

Lee Yeonbae of Autogen and Lee Neunggu of Chilgap Nongsan Receive the Order of Industrial Service Merit (Gold Tower)

Kim Kimoon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, emphasized the need for support for traditional manufacturing industries through the National Growth Fund and for step-by-step AI transformation assistance for SMEs to achieve a major economic leap forward.

The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups held the "2026 Korea SME Entrepreneurs Convention" on the 19th at the KBIZ Hall of the Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul. Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business

The Korea Federation of SMEs and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups held the "2026 Korea Small and Medium Business Owners Convention" on the 19th at the KBIZ Hall of the Korea Federation of SMEs. Now in its 37th year, this year’s convention was held under the slogan "Turning Change into Opportunity, Challenging SMEs," and was attended by around 300 participants, including Prime Minister Kim Minseok, Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Seong-sook, heads of SME organizations, and representatives of small and medium enterprises.

In his opening remarks, Kim Kimoon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, called on the government to invest in the innovation-driven growth of SMEs, including support for traditional manufacturing industries and phased AX (AI transformation) support. Chairman Kim stated, "The Korea Federation of SMEs also plans to invest more than 200 billion won in the National Growth Fund through the Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid Fund. We will promote this so that SMEs nationwide can participate," and added, "We ask the government to invest in and support not only advanced strategic industries but also traditional manufacturing, which accounts for the majority of SMEs, so these sectors can also innovate."

He continued, "While 92% of the 40,000 companies that have introduced smart factories possess manufacturing data, most SMEs still rely only on handwritten materials or have basic data such as ERP. Therefore, a step-by-step AI support policy tailored to the data maturity of SMEs is essential. We must expand AX projects centered on industry-specific cooperatives to solve the labor shortage and accelerate the dissemination of these technologies," he stressed.

At the '2026 Korea Small and Medium Business Conference' held on the 19th at KBIZ Hall of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, Kim Kimoon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, delivered the opening address. Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business

He also urged efforts for balanced regional development. Chairman Kim said, "If there are good companies and workplaces in local areas, young people will be willing to move there. Therefore, companies relocating from the metropolitan area to local regions, those moving from one region to another, and even local enterprises should be supported so that there are no blind spots." He added, "Through administrative integration, such as the Gwangju-Jeonnam Metropolitan City, we should drastically streamline administrative systems to promptly support SMEs."

The Korea Federation of SMEs is also preparing overseas exhibition participation so that more SMEs can benefit from the global K-beauty and K-food wave. Chairman Kim said, "We plan to recruit about 200 outstanding SMEs to participate in ASD, the largest consumer goods exhibition in North America, to be held in Las Vegas, USA, this August," adding, "The organizers specifically requested the participation of Korean companies. Let’s work together to find new opportunities in the global market."

On the 19th, at the KBIZ Hall of the Korea Federation of SMEs, Prime Minister Kim Minseok delivered an encouraging speech at the "2026 Korea Small and Medium Business People's Convention." Korea Federation of SMEs

Prime Minister Kim Minseok emphasized that, for "growth for all," the government will actively promote support from the National Growth Fund, institutional improvements to back up a fair economy, and the revitalization of domestic demand.

Prime Minister Kim stated, "The National Growth Fund, worth 150 trillion won, will serve as a catalyst to support your technological innovation and market expansion. The AI technologies of large companies will spread to manufacturing SMEs, accelerating their AI transformation. We will establish a win-win value chain between large and small enterprises so that the export achievements of large corporations lead to increased sales for SMEs, creating a virtuous cycle."

He added, "We will eradicate technology theft and unfair practices against SMEs. At the end of last month, we established a joint public-private task force under the Prime Minister’s Office to promote regulatory rationalization, and we will swiftly improve regulations that hinder business activities."

Prime Minister Kim further stated, "We will support innovation by boosting domestic demand that people can feel in their daily lives. To ease the burden on the public and businesses caused by high oil prices and to strengthen their purchasing power, we will promptly implement support measures, including compensation for high oil price damages and management stabilization funds for SMEs and small business owners."

During this convention, a total of 92 government awards, including the Order of Industrial Service Merit (Gold Tower), were presented to SME entrepreneurs and workers who contributed to economic growth and job creation.

Lee Yeonbae, CEO of Autogen, who received the Order of Industrial Service Merit (Gold Tower), was recognized for raising the national industrial competitiveness by localizing core technologies in the auto parts industry over approximately 40 years. He was the first in Korea to commercialize the "hot stamping" process—an essential technology for crash safety and fuel efficiency regulations—establishing the foundation for independent lightweight vehicle body technology.

Lee Neung-gu, CEO of Chilgap Nongsan Co., Ltd., also received the Order of Industrial Service Merit (Gold Tower) for his contributions to the modernization of rice processed foods and the globalization of K-food. In 1990, he developed the "alcohol immersion method," which dramatically extended the shelf life of rice processed foods for the first time in Korea, and he made the related patent available for free, leading the establishment of a mass production system for the rice processing industry.

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