Vice Minister Noh Yongseok of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups: "Establishing a Fair Market Order for Mutual Growth"

"Industry Growth Driven by Technology"

Noh Yongseok, who was appointed as the first Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups under the Lee Jaemyung administration, stated on July 14, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups must foster the capabilities of SMEs, venture companies, and small business owners so that our industry can grow through technology-driven innovation, while also establishing a fair market order that enables mutual growth and coexistence."

In his inauguration speech on this day, Vice Minister Noh emphasized, "The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is a key government body that has provided strong support to the self-employed and small business owners on the frontlines of the economy, and has laid the foundation for the growth of SMEs and startups."

Noh Yongseok, Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

He said, "The Lee Jaemyung administration is focusing on economic 'growth' to overcome rapidly changing external environments, low birth rates, and low growth, and aims to build a Republic of Korea where every citizen can live a 'happy' life."

Vice Minister Noh also stated, "We will boldly eliminate unnecessary tasks and unreasonable practices to improve work efficiency. We will listen not only to our policy clients?SMEs, venture companies, and small business owners?but also to the general public, and will develop policies that can be directly felt in the field."

He added, "Since the Ministry of SMEs and Startups deals with all the issues that our policy clients face, it is necessary to have broad expertise. I will pay close attention to strengthening our policy capabilities."

He remarked, "Just as 'two flints are needed to start a fire,' a single flint alone cannot create a spark. In the same way, the spark of change and innovation can ignite only when we come together."

Vice Minister Noh is a career bureaucrat who entered public service through the 41st civil service examination. He has served in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, and has held positions such as Director General for Global Growth Policy, Director General for Startup Promotion Policy, and Director General for SME Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.