We must build together a growth ecosystem where small and midsize enterprises can strap on the new wings of AI, innovate, and soar into the global market.
ChosunBiz opened the 2026 SME AX Leaders Forum at 9 a.m. on the 9th at the Westin Josun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. This year's forum shares success stories of corporations that have turned AI into real management results and productivity innovation, and discusses strategies for small and midsize enterprises to use AI as a new growth engine to secure global competitiveness. The forum runs until 1 p.m. It is sponsored by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Seoul Business Agency (SBA), and the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME).
The SME AX Leaders Forum is a specialized forum in the SME and startup field that ChosunBiz, the economic news outlet of the Chosun Media Group, launched last year with the goal of spreading AI transformation (AX) among small and midsize enterprises for the first time in Korea. While last year's forum diagnosed the crisis facing small and midsize enterprises and presented the need for and direction of AX, this year focuses on sharing real cases of corporations that have produced results through AI and presenting more concrete execution strategies.
ChosunBiz CEO Kim Young-su said in opening remarks, "I hope today's forum will be an opportunity for Korea's small and midsize enterprises to become new leaders of the Korean economy," and added, "I believe our small and midsize enterprises, equipped with the new wings of AI, will soar more powerfully toward the global market."
Huh Sung-moo, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea on the Trade. Industry Energy. SMEs. and Startups Committee, said in congratulatory remarks, "AX for small and midsize enterprises is the most certain strategy to strengthen the backbone of Korea's manufacturing ecosystem and protect the technological sovereignty of national industry," and emphasized, "We will push bold regulatory innovation and support so that small and midsize enterprises can actively validate AI in the field without expense and staffing burdens."
Lee Byeong-gweon, the second vice minister at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "AI is no longer the preserve of a few advanced corporations; it is a core growth tool that raises productivity on factory floors, expands customer management and sales channels for micro businesses, and accelerates the global expansion of small and midsize enterprises and startups," adding, "We will focus policy capabilities so that small and midsize enterprises, startups, and micro businesses can become the main drivers of growth in the era of AI transformation."
At the forum, Kim Chang-hyun, a professor at CEIBS and an expert in management strategy and China, will deliver a keynote speech on "China evolving with AI: current status and Korea's response strategy." He will analyze AI utilization strategies of key industries such as automobiles and batteries as well as Chinese small and midsize enterprises, and present response measures for Korean corporations.
Next, Myung Chang-guk, executive director in charge of the smart logistics center and robotics business at LG CNS, will present a "scalable physical AI" strategy that combines AI and robotics technology on manufacturing sites. He will share ways to use AI to improve productivity and quality and to spread AX among corporations. Kim Dong-hwan, CEO of Nexseed Ventures, will introduce, from an investor's perspective, ways AI can enhance the growth potential and productivity of small and midsize enterprises under the theme "Outlook for AI investment and utilization by small and midsize enterprises."
Lively AX success stories from small and midsize enterprises will also be shared. Corporations in beauty, defense, and biotech will introduce their AI adoption processes, management results, and on-site innovation experiences, presenting solutions that show SMEs can create new growth opportunities through AI. CTK CEO Choi Sun-young will present an AX strategy for cosmetic ODMs; Fundin CEO Kim Deuk-hwa will present a case of establishing an AI-based command decision support system; and Cellkey AI CEO Lee Nam-yong will present a case of AI-based innovation in bio R&D.
A general discussion will also be held, moderated by Kim Se-hoon, head of Korea and Southeast Asia at BCC Global, with participants including Cho Hyung-jin, CEO of AT Kearney Korea, and Gwak Jae-kyung, head of the SME AI Diffusion Promotion Team at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS). The session will focus on strengthening SME competitiveness in the AI era, strategies for entering global markets, and directions for government support.
Meanwhile, ChosunBiz has established the AX Leaders Awards this year. It will select small and midsize enterprises that have achieved work innovation, strengthened competitiveness, and produced management results through AI transformation, and present the Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) Award, the ChosunBiz CEO Award, the Grand Prize, and the Future Innovation Award.