The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has moved to strengthen the social safety net for middle-aged and older small business owners who find it hard to continue their livelihoods due to health problems.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon held a "health and livelihood safety net roundtable for middle-aged and older small business owners" on the 2nd in the Haebangchon Sinheung Market alley commercial district in Yongsan District, Seoul, and discussed ways to manage their health and ease the burden of business closures. The roundtable was the final event in the small business social safety net series.
Before the roundtable, the Vice Minister visited the Haebangchon Sinheung Market alley commercial district and met with middle-aged and older small business owners who have long operated bakeries, optical shops, and restaurants to hear about on-site difficulties.
At the ensuing roundtable, middle-aged and older small business owners who had experienced health problems and experts in health economics attended to share on-the-ground experiences and discuss system improvement measures. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) plans to reflect the opinions presented that day in future policy.
Hong Jeong-rim, an associate research fellow at the Korea Labor Institute (KLI), who delivered the keynote, introduced research comparing the health status of the self-employed and wage workers and said, "Policy support and institutional improvements are needed to promote the health of the self-employed."
In the open discussion, participants shared cases where they had to suspend operations or faced difficulties in their livelihoods due to illness and deteriorating health. They proposed expanding prevention-centered health management support, easing the burden of business closures due to health checkups, and supporting digital competency enhancement as key policy tasks.
The Vice Minister said, "Health management for middle-aged and older small business owners is not simply an individual issue but an important task directly tied to the sustainability of the local economy and community," adding, "We will further strengthen the social safety net so they can prepare for the future with confidence through policies that protect both their lives and livelihoods."
This roundtable was the final event in the small business social safety net series, following support for childbirth and childcare (first) and easing the burden of temporary or permanent closures (second). The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) said it will continue to build a dense social safety net that spans the entire life cycle, including childcare and health care, as well as social insurance, policy insurance, and mutual aid.