The Small and Medium Enterprise Ombudsman said on the 11th it will extend the application period for candidates for the "2026 government commendation for regulatory innovation for small and medium-sized corporations" to find individuals and groups who contributed to uncovering regulatory difficulties, improving systems, and boosting corporate vitality.
The application period has been extended from the 8th to the 5th of next month. The additional recruitment aims to broaden participation by hidden contributors who worked to improve regulations across various fields, including new industries and regional sites, without limiting it to specific industries or job categories. The plan is to identify and commend cases that helped solve problems blocked by existing practices or regulations in new industries such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Individuals and groups who contributed to uncovering and resolving hidden regulations at corporate sites are eligible for commendations. Last year, cases such as "establishing a standard for linking supply prices in contracts with partner companies" and "identifying key regulations in new industries" received awards.
Details such as eligibility and procedures for commendation applications can be found on the websites of the Small and Medium Enterprise Ombudsman, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Orders and Decorations of the Republic of Korea.
Ombudsman Choi Seung-jae said, "We ask for your interest and recommendations so that hidden heroes can be identified in a broader range of fields through the extension of the announcement period."