Confirmation Hearing for Minister of SMEs and Startups Nominee Held on the 15th
Pledges to Foster Digital Transformation and Smart Manufacturing Ecosystem
"Will Discover New Industries to Succeed Like K-Beauty"
"Full Support for Recovery After Business Closure and Establishment of a Fair Market Order"
Hansung Sook, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, expressed her ambition on the 15th, stating, "I will leverage my experience in the private sector to establish a foundation for the growth of SMEs, ventures, and small business owners."
During her opening statement at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, that morning, Hansung Sook said, "I will provide comprehensive support for digital transformation (DX), regulatory reform, and regional balance," outlining her plans.
Hansung Sook, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, is attending the confirmation hearing held at the plenary session of the Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News
She also pledged, "I will implement measures to reduce the business burden on small business owners so they can maintain stable livelihoods, and I will establish recovery programs to help them restart after closure." She promised to introduce comprehensive support measures, including policies to boost domestic demand through increased consumption, as well as business closure and re-employment training programs.
Drawing on her experience with "Project Flower" at Naver, where she supported the digital transformation of traditional markets and local businesses, Hansung Sook presented plans to assist small business owners with DX. She stated, "Small business DX must go beyond simply improving cost efficiency," adding, "My goal is to enhance data utilization capabilities to the level where businesses can secure and interpret data to discover new growth opportunities."
She also announced plans to support the DX of SMEs and AI-based manufacturing innovation. She intends to foster ventures and startups in the AI sector, develop measures for innovation in the smart manufacturing industry, and, in consultation with the National Assembly, enact the "Smart Manufacturing Industry Innovation Act."
Hansung Sook said, "Many startups are taking on the challenge of manufacturing AI businesses, and I will focus on building a smart manufacturing innovation ecosystem that provides solutions and data needed by manufacturing companies." She added, "By driving innovation on the manufacturing floor and leveraging K-Soft Power, I will seek to discover new success stories like K-Beauty, which achieved the top SME export performance last year."
She also promised to build a startup ecosystem where innovative startups can grow. Hansung Sook stated, "I will strengthen the platform function of the Fund of Funds to encourage active inflow of private and foreign capital into the venture investment market and promote the entry of global venture investors into Korea." She added, "I will also prepare comprehensive measures to help Korea become one of the world's top four venture powerhouses."
She expressed her commitment to institutional reforms to establish a fair market order. She plans to address structural issues such as technology theft and unfair trade practices, and to strengthen dispute mediation and remedies for damages. In addition, she announced plans to promote startup ecosystems and specialized research and development (R&D) to revitalize regional economies.
Hansung Sook said, "The government must design and support systems and environments so that the creativity and capabilities of the private sector can be fully realized." She continued, "Even in the process of implementing policies, I will listen attentively to voices from the field and reflect them faithfully, dedicating myself to laying the groundwork so that SMEs and small business owners can operate and grow their businesses safely and sustainably for a long time."
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