The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 29th that they selected Sookwang Industrial CEO Lee Jun-gi and HK CEO Lee Hyang-cheon as "Proud Small and Medium Entrepreneurs" for the third quarter of 2025.
Sookwang Industrial is a corporations that produces industrial pumps used for water treatment and chemical product transfer, and in 2020 it developed the industry's first eco-friendly new product, the "horizontal direct-coupled motor pump." The horizontal direct-coupled motor pump prevents scattering of copper water and oil used in the production process, contributing to a safe work environment and improved quality. Sookwang Industrial was selected for the ESG supply chain due diligence response package project and is actively pursuing ESG management in line with changing industry trends.
Since its founding in 2003, Sookwang Industrial CEO Lee Jun-gi has worked to improve working conditions under the goal of "putting workers' safety and health first to achieve zero-accident business sites." Lee has also worked to return management performance to society.
Sookwang Industrial conducts annual risk assessments and promotes safety awareness among all executives and employees through a safety excellence employee award system, and maintains certification for its occupational safety and health management system to prevent industrial accidents. It also serves as the chair of the Smart Hub Managers Association, representing more than 20,000 companies in the national industrial complex, and is working to revitalize the local economy, while continuously donating funds to organizations such as UNICEF and Ansan City.
HK is a corporations that manufactures kitchen equipment used in group catering, such as induction cauldrons, sterilization cabinets, and serving counters, and operates a systematic production system by obtaining 33 related patents and ISO 9001 certification based on its outstanding technological capabilities. It has obtained the Q Mark and safety certifications for electrical and gas appliances and is working to create a safe food production environment.
HK CEO Lee Hyang-cheon, under the management philosophy of "becoming a corporation that contributes to society through honest profits," is striving not only for management performance but also for social contribution activities and employee welfare. By continuously donating to the Korean Red Cross, Lee received the Member Merit Grand Honor Medal, the highest honor, and is providing company-owned land free of charge to help create a bus lounge in Anseong City.
By operating programs such as pre- and post-maternity leave, reduced working hours during childcare periods, and Family Love Day, the company supports work-life balance, and every year it pays a substantial amount in employee bonuses and performance pay, working to share results.
Meanwhile, "Proud Small and Medium Entrepreneur" is a system in which KBIZ and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups identify and award outstanding entrepreneurs who have contributed to the development of national industries, such as through management rationalization, export growth, and technological development, to promote the spread of exemplary small and medium entrepreneur role models. Applications and inquiries can be made through the KBIZ website or the Corporate Growth Office.