We will make 20026 the "first year of restoring the rights of micro business owners."
Song Chi-young, president of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME), said in the "2026 New Year's address" on the 29th that "we will open the 'era of micro business owners' sovereignty' that restores the status of micro business owners as an independent actor in Korea's economy next year," expressing strong determination.
Looking back on 2025, Song said, "Despite a difficult environment, including political upheaval and weak domestic demand, it was a meaningful year that laid a policy foundation, such as creating a vice minister exclusively in charge of micro business owners at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and supplying a special fund of 10 trillion won for diligent repayers." He added, "The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME) achieved the 'era of 1 million members' ahead of schedule and established itself as a major organization representing Korea."
For 2026, Song presented the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME)'s main priority tasks as: ▲ building a social safety net and strengthening the welfare system for micro business owners ▲ laying the groundwork to establish the KFME Policy Research Institute ▲ policy innovation based on micro business owner data ▲ improving the employment environment for micro business owners, including abolishing the weekly holiday allowance ▲ creating a policy environment that prioritizes micro business owners in line with the local elections. Song plans to fully implement the "era of micro business owners' sovereignty" starting next year through these tasks.
Song also cited "Nojeokseonghae (露積成海)," which means that dewdrops gather to form a sea, and said, "If all of Korea's micro business owners unite as one and come together in harmony, we can overcome any wave."