On the 9th, Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs and Startups, stated, “We will do our best to ensure that various policies for small business owners, included in this year’s economic policy directions, are well-established in the field.”
On this day, Minister Oh presided over the first 2025 “Small Business Owners’ Q&A Policy Consultation Meeting,” where she listened to suggestions and difficulties from representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses.
This policy consultation meeting was the first to be held after Minister Oh expressed her commitment to continuing the initiative at the last meeting of December last year. The event was attended by the president and vice president of the Federation of Small Businesses, representatives from provincial units, heads of regional offices of the Small Enterprise and Market Service, and related experts.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups first explained the main policy directions for small business owners for this year to the attendees.
A discussion was then held with local chapter presidents of the Federation of Small Businesses and regional directors of the Small Enterprise and Market Service to address the current status, challenges of the local small business sector, and desired policies for this year.
Chapter presidents of the Federation of Small Businesses delivered field feedback, including easing policy fund requirements, expanding digital transformation support, and promoting consumer campaigns. Local challenges and suggestions will be actively reflected in the policy implementation process through internal review and consultation with related ministries.
Song Chi-young, president of the Federation of Small Businesses, stated, “Last year, through the Q&A initiative, communication with the field on issues such as management cost burdens and regulations related to work has been significantly strengthened and incorporated, and I hope that policies this year will also be perceptible on the ground.”
He further suggested, “Amid the recent unstable political situation and difficult economic conditions, I am grateful to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups for their unwavering support, such as early execution of the small business budget this year. Considering the difficult livelihood conditions, I hope for inter-agency efforts to restore warmth to small businesses as the Lunar New Year approaches.”
Minister Oh, who chaired the policy consultation meeting, mentioned, “This year’s Q&A will delve deeper into the field of small businesses. We have brought together small business representatives from across the country for this first meeting of the new year, and I will strive to meet small business owners across various sectors, industries, and regions to ensure the policies included in this year’s economic policy directions are effectively established in the field.”
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