To mark the companion festival period, the Minister and Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups made simultaneous visits to major consumer sites nationwide, moving to support small business owners and spur consumption.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 1st that Minister Han Seong-sook and Second Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon each visited major venues to encourage small business owners and deliver messages to boost consumption.
This visit is part of a relay on-site inspection to check major offline events during the companion festival, which is underway from on the 11th to on the 10th, and to encourage the spread of a consumption-friendly mood.
At the Jeonju event where the opening ceremony was held earlier, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and the Minister Han attended, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol visited the Bupyeong Black Day event. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) Vice Minister also continued on-site activities by attending events such as the Gwanghwamun sales fair and the Gwangju Yangdong Tongmaek Festival.
On the same day, the Minister Han visited the site of the "Small Business Win-Win Sales Fair" held in Anseong, Gyeonggi, toured participating companies, and encouraged officials.
This sales fair is a representative companion festival win-win case linking large retail companies and small business owners, with about 50 companies participating, including century-old stores, micro-manufacturers, local markets, and K-beauty youth companies.
The venue featured a flea market, a food zone, a K-beauty special exhibition, and a live-commerce hall, and cultural programs such as K-pop performances, taekwondo demonstrations, and busking were also held.
The Minister Han said, "It is important to use large retail infrastructure to expand opportunities for small business owners to meet consumers directly," and added, "We will expand private-sector cooperation so that the sales fair model can lead to tangible increases in sales."
The Minister also noted, "We will continue to expand consumption-promotion programs linked to neighborhood commercial districts," and said, "We look forward to active participation by the public during the companion festival."
On the same day, Second Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon visited the site of the "Daegu Handmade Burger Festival" in Daegu and encouraged young merchants.
This event is a region-based festival that provides sales and promotion opportunities to local small business owners and links local brand development with stimulating consumption.
At the site, the Vice Minister listened to the startup process and difficulties and said, "The challenges of young merchants are breathing vitality into local commercial districts," adding, "We will support the continued spread of local brand festivals."