"I consider it an immense honor to conclude my 37-year public service journey in the esteemed position of Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups."
On the 24th, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups Oh Youngju said during her farewell speech at a retirement ceremony held at the Sejong Ministry of SMEs and Startups that she was truly fortunate to dedicate the final part of her public service to the national issues of protecting and growing small and medium enterprises, ventures, startups, and small business owners, which are the backbone of our economy. Minister Oh, who comes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has led the ministry for the past 1 year and 7 months.
Minister Oh emphasized, "Every day as a minister was fulfilling because of all of you who worked together to think and strive for better policies and more effective implementation through countless discussions where we heard the candid opinions of policy subjects on the table for designing and deciding various policies." She added, "Through new attempts and challenges, I was able to feel the growing capabilities of the ministry's staff and the increased effectiveness and timeliness of the ministry's policies, which motivated me to live each moment more fiercely and mindfully."
Minister Oh also stressed the future role of the ministry. She said, "The situation for small and medium enterprises and small business owners is still not easy, so I feel heavy-hearted leaving. The rapid changes in the internal and external environment surrounding the ministry and small and medium enterprises require a broader and deeper perspective, creative thinking, and innovative strategies from the ministry."