The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises said on the 22nd that it will host the "2025 SME Leaders Forum" at Lotte Hotel Jeju from the 23rd to the 26th, with more than 400 representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises from across industries attending.
Launched in 2007, the "SME Leaders Forum" is the country's largest economic forum that has presented management strategies and future visions for small and midsize businesses, including economic democratization and regulatory reform.
Marking its 18th year, this year's forum will be held under the theme "Challenge and innovation, to the world and to the future." It carries the meaning that small and midsize businesspeople will take the lead in expanding Korea's economic territory through challenge and innovation and in securing future growth engines to overcome structural economic crises such as population decline and a falling potential growth rate.
Minister Han Seong-suk of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups will attend to present directions for challenge and innovation by small and midsize enterprises amid changes in domestic and global economic conditions, and will directly introduce the current administration's policy vision for SMEs and key tasks.
With the U.S. tariff issue emerging as a hot topic recently, the second day of the forum will feature a "Seminar on strategies for U.S. entry by SMEs."
U.S.-based experts, including Banney Lee, head of Hanmi Bank, and Scott Lee, managing partner attorney of the LBBS Korean Group, will join to offer diverse perspectives and solutions to SME leaders seeking to enter the United States.
KBIZ Chairman Kim Ki-moon said, "Marking its 18th edition this year, the SME Leaders Forum is a representative forum of the Republic of Korea that has responded to rapidly changing agenda items and sought solutions," adding, "As this year's forum is themed 'challenge and innovation' with a variety of lectures and programs prepared, I hope attending CEOs will gain insights to prepare for the future."