The small business community called for institutional reforms such as easing employment burdens and regulating online platforms. Some expect improvements in the business environment, but it is still hard for small businesses on the ground as high inflation, a strong dollar-won exchange rate, and platform dependence overlap. The government and the National Assembly said they will accelerate policy support for small business recovery.
The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME) held the 2026 small business New Year's gathering at the Glad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 27th. About 300 people attended, including Lee Byeong-gweon, the second vice minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, key figures from both ruling and opposition parties, KFME President Song Chi-young, and small business representatives by sector and region.
This year, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME) picked as key priorities: pushing to revise the small business welfare law; increasing support for employment insurance premiums and introducing livelihood stabilization funds; proving data-based policies through establishing the KFME Policy Research Institute; spreading small business-first pledges through local elections; and improving the employment environment, including abolishing weekly holiday allowances.
The small business community argued that outdated regulations should be scrapped, such as abolishing the weekly holiday allowance paid to workers who attend all scheduled workdays in a week and making the minimum wage system more flexible. There was also criticism of online platforms.
KFME President Song Chi-young said, "We will steadfastly protect the small business ecosystem against the predatory behavior of online platforms that wear the mask of innovation while fattening themselves on the lifeblood of small businesses."
The government plans to make this year the first year of a leap forward for small businesses and to speed up support. Second Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said, "We will identify local startup corporations to breathe life into neighborhood commercial districts and create a success model for small businesses," adding, "We will back sales growth and global challenges."
Lee added, "We will make sure not to neglect the safety net that connects reemployment and retrying so people can try again," and "In the new year, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) will move quickly, communicate with small businesses, deliver tangible results in the numbers, and bring about real changes in daily life."
The National Assembly signaled it will work to create an institutional environment so that the fruits of economic growth also reach small businesses.
Rebuilding Korea Party Secretary-General Lee Hae-min said, "It is not just for the fruits of growth to be concentrated in the platform power of large corporations while costs are passed on to small businesses," adding, "We need to prepare win-win measures so that big capital and platforms do not act high-handedly."
Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok said, "Countermeasures on online platform fees are important, but the market principle is competition."
Lee added, "We must not leave out discussions on how to bring people who have turned abroad back home," and "When tourists arrive at Incheon Airport, various policy trials are needed, such as promoting that they can buy goods at lower prices at small business-run stores by selling Onnuri gift certificates as prepaid cards for 100,000–200,000 won."
At the event, a ceremony was also held to mark 1 million members of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME). President Song said, "As dewdrops gather to form a sea, if 7.9 million small business owners unite and harmonize, we can overcome any wave," stressing, "We will make this year the 'first year of restoring small business rights,' when small businesses stand as autonomous actors in Korea's economy."