The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said on the 3rd that it held the second small business relay roundtable on the theme of "digital and artificial intelligence transition for small business owners" at Dream Square in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
The roundtable, part of the "season 2 relay roundtable for small business growth" that began in Nov., was presided over by Second Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon and was promoted to gather a range of views to support digital innovation for small business owners and to set future policy directions.
Small business owners from various sectors, digital and AI experts, and heads of technology suppliers attended as panelists, and about 20 general small business owners interested in digital innovation were also present.
On the day, Jeong Su-jeong, a research fellow at the Korea SMEs & Startups Institute (KOSI), gave a presentation on "the need for digital and AI transition for small business owners, success cases, and implications." The presentation highlighted the importance of digital innovation in line with changes in the management environment for small business owners, analyzed success stories by sector, and introduced tailored policy strategies. Han Sang-min, head of Grotto Season, shared the company's digital transition case and experiences collaborating with platform companies.
In the subsequent panel discussion, Choi Jong-won, head of the handmade burger brand Daily Fix, stressed the need for differentiated support programs according to growth stage and digital maturity. Jeon Chan-seok, head of the AI technology supplier Pion Corporation, introduced a case in which a small business owner lacking digital capabilities and personnel used AI to produce and utilize promotional videos, and raised the view that a foundation enabling easy access to AI technology is needed.
During the Q&A session that followed, there were a variety of questions and panel answers, including on support for various digital devices and programs and ways to use data generated in the management process. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) explained the current status of policies for digital innovation for small business owners and future policy directions.
Second Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said, "This is a period when the digital management environment for small business owners is rapidly changing due to swift technological advances and shifts in the distribution market," adding, "Digital innovation for small business owners is a core strategy for boosting competitiveness and achieving sustainable growth, and we will prepare a variety of support measures."