Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, "This Year, Focus on Improving the 52-Hour Workweek"

KSMB Holds Regular General Meeting
Reports on Last Year's Achievements and Awards Presented
"Let's Stay Strong and Overcome Challenges Together"

Kim Kijun, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (KSMB), emphasized this year that efforts will be made to improve the 52-hour workweek system and to globalize small and medium enterprises.

The KSMB announced on the 26th that it held the 63rd regular general meeting at the KSMB headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Kim said, "Last year, due to high inflation, high interest rates, high exchange rates, and the impeachment political situation, consumer sentiment froze, making it difficult for small and medium enterprises and small business owners who rely heavily on domestic demand." He added, "In 2025, we plan to focus on the globalization of small and medium enterprises, improvement of the 52-hour workweek system, and the introduction of the cooperative consultation request right. I hope that everyone will work hard to overcome difficulties this year."

Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business. Photo by Yonhap News

About 400 representatives from small and medium enterprise cooperatives and related SME organizations attended the general meeting, where reports on major policy achievements from last year were presented, and awards were given to outstanding small and medium enterprise cooperatives, meritorious persons, and excellent industrial and special committees.

The outstanding small and medium enterprise cooperatives selected were the Seoul Machinery Industry Cooperative, Munjeong-dong Rodeo Shopping District Promotion Cooperative, Gwangju Metropolitan City Supermarket Cooperative, and Daejeon-Sejong-Chungcheong Ready-Mixed Concrete Industry Cooperative. Meritorious persons included Lim Juhyeok, Executive Director of the Daejeon-Sejong-Chungnam Crop Protection Agent Sales Cooperative; Yoo Byungguk, Executive Director of the Seoul Soybean Processing Food Business Cooperative; and Jeon Hongbae, Deputy Manager of the Korea Metal Industry Cooperative, and the excellent industrial and special committees selected were the Labor and Workforce Committee and the Textile Industry Committee.

Agenda items deliberated included ▲2024 business report ▲settlement of accounts and disposition of surplus ▲2025 business plan and budget ▲election of executives, among seven agenda items, which were proposed and approved.