The Small Business Policy Association said it held the first Small Business Future Policy Forum on the afternoon of the 24th at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises under the theme "Response plans for small businesses to overcome the recession."
The forum was attended by Lee Byeong-gweon, second vice minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, as well as Oh Gi-ung, executive vice chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, and Cho Joo-hyeon, head of the Korea SMEs & Startups Institute (KOSI). The keynote presentations were given by Choe Sang-chuel, professor at Kansai University's Faculty of Commerce in Japan, and Jeong Su-jeong, head of the Small Business Policy Office at the Korea SMEs & Startups Institute (KOSI).
Choe Sang-chuel, professor at Kansai University's Faculty of Commerce in Japan, gave a presentation on the theme "Characteristics of Japan's retail market during a prolonged recession and strategic tasks for small businesses." Choe compared and analyzed Japanese consumers' strong attachment to their regions and the local retailers' community-rooted strategies based on it with Korea's phenomena of "Seoul-centric concentration" and "Seoulization of regions."
Choe noted, "Japan's small business owners are assessed as having established themselves as central figures in their communities rather than as economically vulnerable, but the Japanese government's policy tools have limits." Choe also mentioned the need for support to solve local problems and sustain local economies.
Choe explained, "There is a need to seek virtuous and sustainable policies and strategies that revive Korea's local affection and locality to rediscover and recreate regions."
Jeong Su-jeong, head of the Small Business Policy Office at the Korea SMEs & Startups Institute (KOSI), delivered the second keynote presentation, titled "Policy proposals to help small businesses overcome crises." Jeong said, "In a difficult situation compounded by changes in the macro environment, small businesses face liability, closures, commercial district stagnation, and conflicts between large and small corporations, but in the future they will be able to supply services and products that match consumer needs." However, Jeong argued, "There is a high possibility that offline commercial districts will decline, so preparation is needed."
Jeong added, "Government policy should focus on building infrastructure that helps small businesses adapt to the changed environment and grow, and should play a supporting role," adding, "Small businesses themselves must strengthen their competitiveness in terms of entrepreneurship, technology, and management."
In the general discussion, participants discussed solutions to the immediate problems of small businesses and future strategies. Im Chae-un, emeritus professor at Sogang University, chaired the session. Ko Jang-su, president of the National Cafe Owners Cooperative, Jeong Ji-hyeon, Ph.D. at the SEMAS Small Business Research Institute, Yu Byeong-guk, professor at the University of Incheon, Yun Se-myeong, Director of the Small Business Policy Division at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), Cha Nam-su, Deputy Minister of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise (KFME), and Hwang Yeong-man, head of the Small Business Policy Office at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, took part and shared their views.