Former Lawmaker Choi Seung-jae Appointed as New Small and Medium Business Ombudsman

Based on National Assembly and Field Experience, Expect to Resolve Difficulties of Small Businesses and SMEs
"I Will Lead the Enhancement of Small Business Rights and the Revitalization of SMEs" Inaugural Ambition

Choi Seung-jae (57), a former member of the National Assembly, was appointed as the 6th Small and Medium Business Ombudsman (vice-ministerial level) on the 20th. This appointment comes about a year after Park Ju-bong, chairman of the Incheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the 4th and 5th Small and Medium Business Ombudsman, retired in August last year after 5 years and 6 months of service.

Choi Seung-jae, Small and Medium Business Ombudsman (Vice Minister Level)
[Photo by Small and Medium Business Ombudsman]

The Small and Medium Business Ombudsman is an independent institution appointed by the Prime Minister upon the recommendation of the Minister of SMEs and Startups and review by the Regulatory Reform Committee. According to the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises, the Ombudsman receives complaints and management difficulties from medium-sized and small enterprises and small business owners and promotes improvements. The term of office for the Ombudsman is three years, with the possibility of reappointment.

Ombudsman Choi Seung-jae previously served as a director of the Korea Federation of SMEs in 2011 and as a member of the Win-Win Growth Committee. In 2014, he founded the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business and served as its first and second president. He is recognized for his long-standing leadership in small business sectors and related organizations, actively advocating for the rights and interests of small business owners, and is praised for his comprehensive field expertise.

In particular, during this period, Ombudsman Choi played a significant role in improving or legislating and institutionalizing various issues related to small business owners, such as the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act and the designation of livelihood-suitable industries.

He later served as a member of the 21st National Assembly, participating in the Industry, Trade, and SMEs Committee and serving as the chairman of the People Power Party’s Small Business Committee, engaging in various legislative activities for small and medium enterprises and small business owners.

Newly appointed Ombudsman Choi Seung-jae expressed his inauguration aspirations, stating, "Based on expertise representing 9 million small and medium enterprises and small business owners, I will lead the enhancement of small business owners’ rights and the revitalization of SMEs."

□ Profile of Ombudsman Choi Seung-jae

▲ Born in 1967 in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province ▲ Graduated from Kyonggi University with a degree in Business Administration ▲ Director of Korea Federation of SMEs (2011?2015) ▲ Member of the Minimum Wage Commission (2015?2016) ▲ Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Hope Foundation (2015?2017) ▲ Member of the Win-Win Growth Committee (2015?2019) ▲ President of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (2014?2020) ▲ 21st National Assembly member (People Power Party, 2020?2024) ▲ Member of the National Assembly Industry, Trade, and SMEs Committee (2020?2022) ▲ Chairman of the People Power Party Small Business Committee (2020?2023) ▲ Member of the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee and Gender Equality and Family Committee (2022?2024).