Jeonbuk Province Recruiting Candidates for 'Outstanding Small Businessperson Award'

Applications accepted until the 11th
Support includes management improvement subsidies

Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province is accepting nominations for the '23rd Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Outstanding Small and Medium Businessperson Award' until the 11th.

According to the province on the 8th, this call for nominations is designed to discover and encourage small and medium business owners and heads of economic organizations who have contributed to the development of the local economy.

Jeonbuk Provincial Government Office building. Provided by Jeonbuk Province.

Marking its 23rd year, the 'Outstanding Small and Medium Businessperson Award' is presented to representatives of small and medium enterprises and heads of economic organizations or SME cooperatives who have achieved exceptional results in eight fields, including job creation, sales growth, regional contribution, technological innovation, start-ups, and long-standing businesses.

Since its inception in 2003, a total of 121 recipients have been honored with this award, which has become a representative recognition program for businesspeople, aiming to boost morale and pride among small and medium business owners and to vitalize the local economy.

Eligibility requirements as of the announcement date are as follows: ▲ Representatives of small and medium enterprises with at least five regular employees who have operated a business in Jeonbuk Province for more than three years, or ▲ Representatives of economic organizations or SME cooperatives who have been active in the province for more than three years and have contributed to improving the management environment and rights of SMEs.

Those selected as award recipients will receive practical benefits, including ▲ a management improvement subsidy of 25 million KRW ▲ an increase in the maximum limit for Jeonbuk Province management stabilization fund loans up to 700 million KRW ▲ 3.0% interest support ▲ a three-year deferment of local tax audits ▲ and the awarding of a certification plaque.

Applications can be submitted in person or by mail to the business support department of the city or county where the company is located by the 11th. Submitted companies will undergo document and on-site reviews, and the final recipients will be selected by the Jeonbuk Province SME Support Agency Council in June. For more details, refer to the announcement posted on the Jeonbuk Province and city/county office websites.

Kim Intae, Director of Corporate Attraction and Support at the province, stated, "The Outstanding Small and Medium Businessperson Award is an opportunity to express gratitude for the hard work of entrepreneurs and to discover new leaders who will drive the local economy," adding, "We will continue to support the challenges and innovations of SMEs in the province."