The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 22nd that it held the "2026 2nd Small and Medium Enterprise Policy Council," discussing the direction for overhauling SME support programs and the status of the "large-small business co-prosperity growth strategy."
First, the government reviewed measures to streamline SME support programs across all ministries. Because SME support programs operate within limited resources, officials said the support framework needs to be adjusted to boost growth effects and policy outcomes.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Ministry of Planning and Budget have prepared streamlining guidelines since early this year and reviewed 477 SME support programs across 17 ministries. At the council meeting, they shared the review results and discussed future overhaul directions.
They also exchanged views on plans to revamp support systems to promote growth and prioritize performance. They examined ways to focus support on corporations with high growth potential and to reform screening systems so that small and medium-sized corporations can secure competitiveness in new industries and grow into mid-sized and global corporations. Some noted that multi-year, large-scale package support is needed for innovative corporations.
They also reviewed progress on the "large-small business co-prosperity growth strategy" released in January this year. Of the 38 tasks in total, two tax-related tasks have already been completed, and the remaining tasks, including expanding co-prosperity finance and introducing a Korea-style evidence disclosure system, are reportedly proceeding as planned.
The government plans to continue strengthening the efficiency and growth support functions of SME support programs and to accelerate efforts to expand the foundation for co-prosperity between large and small businesses.
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said, "Based on the discussions at the Small and Medium Enterprise Policy Council, we will completely overhaul the budget structure of SME support programs, as well as the overall screening systems and support methods, to focus on growth promotion and performance," adding, "MSS will work to create leading best practices."