Lee Young, Minister of SMEs and Startups Nominee, Pledges Dedication to Small and Medium Ventures and Small Business Owners

Pain of SMEs and Small Business Owners Due to COVID-19... Heavy Responsibility
Former IT Security Company CEO Turned Lawmaker
"Will Discuss Small Matters Together and Listen Carefully"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwak Min-jae] Lee Young, the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, stated on the 14th, "I feel a heavy responsibility being nominated as the Minister of SMEs and Startups at a critical time when countless small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners are suffering due to COVID-19."

On the same day, Lee said on Facebook, "If I am given the opportunity after completing the remaining procedures well, I will dedicate myself to the small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners who have overcome all difficulties together with me over the past 20 years and have been a support to each other."

He added, "As always, I will discuss and listen carefully to both big and small matters together."

Lee Young, a member of the People Power Party and the first nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, is a former CEO of an IT security company turned lawmaker. Born in Seoul in 1969, he graduated from the Department of Mathematics at Kwangwoon University and completed doctoral coursework in cryptography at KAIST Graduate School.

As a first-generation security expert, he co-founded Terten, a data security company, in 2000 with seniors and juniors from KAIST. He has served as president of the Korea Women Venture Association, vice chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, and vice chairman of the Korea Software Industry Association.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol stated, "Lee understands the difficulties faced by small and venture businesses well and knows how to listen to voices from the field," adding, "He will lead well to foster strong small and medium enterprises in various fields and to produce many excellent venture companies that can provide Korea's future growth engines."