Small-business owners described the outlook for next year's management environment for small and midsize enterprises with the four-character idiom "jagang-bulsik (自强不息)," meaning to strengthen oneself and keep striving without rest.
The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises said on the 21st that in a survey of 1,000 small and midsize enterprises on the four-character idiom reflecting the outlook for the management environment, "jagang-bulsik" (30.2%) was selected as the idiom for 2026.
Jagang-bulsik means to strengthen oneself and keep striving without rest, and it is interpreted as reflecting small-business owners' determination to bolster corporate capabilities and overcome crises even as internal and external conditions change rapidly.
On why it chose jagang-bulsik, a company based in Seoul said, "It will likely be difficult for the time being amid global economic and security crises, but a few industries such as construction could find momentum if the Russia-Ukraine war ends," adding, "We intend to build our own strength and prepare for opportunities that may open, even if small."
A company in Gyeonggi Province said it "plans to strengthen competitiveness by lowering production expense through digital automation," while a company in North Gyeongsang Province said, "Next year, we will work to launch new products and develop export channels through our own research and development."
For this year's four-character idiom describing the management environment, more than half of respondents, 66.5%, chose "gogun-buntu (孤軍奮鬪)," meaning to overcome difficult situations well with a small number of people or limited strength.
Kim Ki-moon, chair of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, said, "2025 was a year of 'gogun-buntu' due to a strong dollar, high tariffs, and weak domestic demand, but in 2026, we can see small-business owners' resolve to be 'jagang-bulsik'—to avoid being swayed by internal and external conditions and to raise their own competitiveness," adding, "The small and midsize business community will not simply view upcoming changes as a crisis but will actively use them as opportunities to grow and take on challenges."