Experts said the business environment for domestic small and midsize companies and microbusiness owners has entered a structural transition period.
Korea SMEs & Startups Institute (KOSI) President Cho Juhyeon said at the KOSI symposium on the 29th that "the prolonged period of high interest rates and high inflation, growing global uncertainty, and demographic shifts are fundamentally changing the business conditions for small and midsize companies and microbusiness owners," adding, "Beyond short-term fixes, we need to diagnose the core risks from a mid- to long-term perspective and proactively set policy directions."
On the day, Korea SMEs & Startups Institute (KOSI) released the top 10 issues for small and midsize companies and microbusiness owners in 2026, derived from a survey of experts and industry officials in the field. The symposium was held under the theme of reviewing current issues and policy responses for small and midsize companies, startups and ventures, and microbusiness owners in 2026.
The 10 issues presented by Korea SMEs & Startups Institute (KOSI) are grouped into three areas: corporate management, technology and environment, and politics and society. In corporate management, the main tasks selected were ▲ diversification of export structures for small and midsize corporations ▲ discussions on institutionalizing venture investment by pension funds ▲ securing a global sales base for microbusiness owners ▲ improving the business structure of microbusiness owners.
In technology and environment, the core issues presented were ▲ the gap in the adoption of digital technology among corporations ▲ responding to climate change and the green transition. In politics and society, the selected items were ▲ broader application of the Labor Standards Act ▲ gradual extension of the statutory retirement age ▲ changes in employment structures due to AI use ▲ fair competition in the online platform ecosystem.
Seon Yonguk, associate research fellow at Korea SMEs & Startups Institute (KOSI), said, "Next year, amid strengthened U.S.-China country-first policies, diversifying the export structure of small and midsize companies will be essential," adding, "Tailored policy support by target is needed, such as institutionalizing pension funds' venture investment and securing a global sales base for microbusiness owners."
Kim Gwonsik, head of the Startup and Venture Innovation Research Division, stressed regarding the AI transition of small and midsize companies that "we must move beyond uniform software support to strengthen practical capabilities by promoting digital transformation tailored to on-site demand, such as robots and automation, and by training AI specialists."
Seo Ribin, a professor at Soongsil University, noted, "Institutionalizing pension fund venture investment carries policy expectations for expanding growth capital, but the risk of conflict between pension funds' fiduciary duties and policy goals remains," adding, "We must expand the pool of asset managers and promote competition in parallel, while structurally blocking potential political interference."
President Cho Juhyeon said, "I hope that the discussions at this symposium—such as diversification of exports by small and midsize companies, AI adoption, institutionalizing pension funds' venture investment, and the gradual extension of the statutory retirement age—will serve as meaningful references in preparing future policies for small and midsize companies and microbusiness owners."