Hansung Sook: "Platforms and Businesses Must Move Forward Together for Long-Term Growth"

Hansung Sook, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, stated on the 15th, "It has always been my consistent belief that platforms and businesses must move forward together in order to achieve long-term growth."

At the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee on this day, nominee Han made these remarks in response to Seo Wangjin, a lawmaker from the Democratic Innovation Party, who pointed out, "Preventing the abuse of monopoly power by large platforms was one of President Lee Jaemyung's presidential campaign pledges and is also a long-standing wish of small business owners. However, there are evaluations that Naver's policy direction is actually moving in the opposite direction."

Hansung Sook, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, is delivering opening remarks at the confirmation hearing held on the 15th at the National Assembly Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee plenary session. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Lawmaker Seo stated, "The structure is such that the profit margins that small business owners have managed to secure with great difficulty are being siphoned off by large platforms, and it is very difficult to mount any meaningful response to this."

Nominee Han replied, "I have given serious thought to the fact that platform operators also need to take responsibility," and added, "Going forward, I will closely monitor whether platform operators are acting responsibly."

She continued, "I have reviewed materials on related issues such as delivery apps and Tmon and have found the situation to be quite serious," and added, "I will also review institutional measures to ensure that platform operators and small and medium-sized merchants can coexist in a fair trade environment."