Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs Candidate, "Pioneering New Markets is Important... Will Play a Major Role"

Meeting reporters on the first commute on the 5th
"If given the opportunity, I will rush to the Minsheng site"

Oh Young-joo, the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, said on the 5th, "Pioneering new markets is very important."

Oh Young-joo, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, is answering questions from the press as she arrives at the hearing preparation office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 5th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On her way to her first day at the Small and Medium Business Technology Information Promotion Agency in Yeouido, Seoul, where her hearing preparation office is located, Oh met with reporters and stated, "Pioneering new markets can play a significant role in enhancing competitiveness, and I will do my best to leverage the experience, networking, and knowledge I have built over 36 years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Oh, who was nominated as the Minister of SMEs and Startups the day before, is a 'career diplomat.' She passed the 22nd Foreign Service Examination and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1988. She has since served as Director of the Development Cooperation Bureau, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Multilateral Coordinator, and Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Most recently, she served as the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

When asked, "How do you plan to maintain communication with small business owners and venture companies in the field?" she replied, "I believe the 7.3 million small business owners are the most important and also face the greatest difficulties in terms of jobs and various aspects of our economy. While I cannot specify any immediate issues, I will make efforts to visit them directly, meet with them, and communicate in detail with associations to determine what policies are important or effective."

Oh added, "Above all, I think communication and listening carefully to those issues are the most important parts."

She also emphasized, "Given the challenging domestic and international environment surrounding our economy, I feel a great sense of responsibility as the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups. If given the opportunity to work, I will run directly to the field where our people live?the workplaces of small and medium enterprises, venture companies, and small business owners?to listen diligently and observe carefully, striving to implement related national tasks well. I am committed to being a strong support for small and medium enterprises and small business owners, who are the foundation of our economy but also face the greatest difficulties."

However, she was reserved regarding current issues. When asked about the 'Serious Accidents Punishment Act,' Oh said, "I will address those matters properly during the hearing process."