Han Seong-suk, Minister of SMEs and Startups, took office on the 24th. During the inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' Oullim Hall in Sejong City, she stated, "I will help the recovery and growth of small business owners." Minister Han added, "I will design real growth for SMEs through innovative technologies like digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) and create an environment for it."
She said, "I will promptly execute the second supplementary budget to stabilize the management of small business owners and alleviate the debt burden through the extension of repayment institutions and interest rate reductions, and I will work to reduce fixed cost burdens." She further noted, "I will enhance one-stop support tailored to the characteristics of small business owners from pre-closure to employment, proactively before debt transfer."
Minister Han also mentioned the flood damage site in Dangjin City, Chungcheongnam-do, emphasizing the need to build a "disaster safety net for small business owners." She stated, "I will establish a damage recovery system for large disasters, support employment insurance, and focus on strengthening fire insurance."
Minister Han continued, saying, "I will ensure that SMEs become the main players in the digital transformation (DX) and create an innovative smart manufacturing ecosystem that provides solutions and data necessary for manufacturing companies as many startups challenge the manufacturing AI sector." She also mentioned, "I will disseminate the digital transformation of SMEs at various levels from foundational to advanced stages." To achieve this, she pledged to legislate the "Smart Manufacturing Industry Innovation Law."
Minister Han also said that a robust startup ecosystem is needed where one can boldly challenge entrepreneurship. To this end, she stated, "I will establish a comprehensive plan for the leap to becoming a venture powerhouse and promote the participation of private funds, such as pension funds, in the venture investment market and extend the duration of the mother fund."
She also noted, "I will build a 'co-prosperity ecosystem' so that large corporations and SMEs can grow together in a fair environment." She stated, "I will eradicate technology theft against SMEs by introducing the Korean discovery system, respond firmly to unfair practices in consignment transactions, and support affected companies swiftly and effectively."
She also expressed her determination towards "revitalizing the local economy." Minister Han said, "I will create local innovation hubs centered around the five mega-regions and three special autonomous regions, and I will build a cooperation base by linking local universities, research institutions, SMEs, mid-sized companies, and innovative startups."
Minister Han, a first-generation expert in information technology (IT), joined Naver in 2007 and served as CEO for five years from 2017 to 2022. President Lee Jae-myung approved her appointment on the afternoon of the 23rd.