Minister Lee So-young "Expanding opportunities for China to participate in national growth projects"

Attending the Korea Federation of SMEs and Startups Leaders Forum... “Actively improving unreasonable regulations”

(Jeju = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Sang-seo = Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee So-young said on the 20th, "We will actively discover and improve unreasonable regulations that block corporate innovation and challenges, and expand opportunities for competent small and medium-sized businesses to participate in national growth projects."

Minister Lee made this announcement while attending the opening ceremony of the '2026 Small Business Leaders Forum' held at Lotte Hotel Jeju on this day and hosted by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business.

He emphasized, "We will support small and medium-sized businesses through field-oriented policies so that they can leap forward as a new growth engine for the Korean economy. We will expand support for carbon neutrality response and prepare and promote autonomous manufacturing strategies based on physical artificial intelligence (AI), while also effectively strengthening administrative sanctions against technology theft."

At the same time, he promised, “Under the motto that ‘the starting point of policy is the field,’ we will faithfully reflect the voices of small and medium-sized business owners in policies and create an environment in which companies can freely innovate and take on challenges.”

In addition, he mentioned large-scale government projects that will cost tens of trillions of won over 10 years, such as the 3 mega projects, the 5-pole 3-special growth engine, and the K-GX project, and emphasized that it is necessary to highlight the role of small and medium-sized businesses and find a leading role, rather than focusing on large corporations.

Minister Lee explained, "As the Ministry of SMEs and Startups participates as the lead ministry in the mega project meeting chaired by the President, small and medium-sized businesses will also participate in the meeting starting next month." He added, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will also speak louder, advocate, and find a bigger role so that small and medium-sized businesses can play a bigger role and have a louder voice."

He added, “I think we will be able to do bigger things if the small and medium-sized business leaders here give us a lot of effort and support.” He added, “Please help us a lot.”

The forum, attended by about 400 small and medium-sized business representatives, will continue until the 23rd under the theme of 'Together with small and medium-sized businesses, becoming one of the top three AI powers.'