Minister Han Seongsook Reviews Key Issues Including Consumption Promotion and Export Response

Full-Scale Implementation of Follow-Up Tasks Begins

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on August 4 that it had reviewed key issues such as boosting consumption and responding to exports through an executive meeting presided over by Minister Han Seongsook.

Hansung Sook, Minister of SMEs and Startups, is delivering opening remarks at the 'Communication Meeting with Small and Medium Enterprise Organizations' held at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, on July 29, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

This meeting was held to review the plans for consumption promotion events being carried out in each region through the recently launched "Consumption Revitalization TF," and to check the current status of customs response support that has been prepared so far.

On the first key agenda item, "Revitalizing Domestic Demand," the ministry focused on discussing ways to strengthen field-oriented support and promote a policy system centered on public experience, with all internal organizations actively participating. This discussion was a follow-up to the joint public-private "Domestic Demand and Consumption Revitalization Campaign" launched on July 29 and the establishment of the "Consumption Revitalization TF" on July 30. Based on the outcome of this discussion, the ministry plans to systematically implement subsequent tasks in earnest.

The second key issue was to review the current status of customs response support. The ministry has so far prepared various support measures to minimize customs-related damages for exporting SMEs, and has been implementing a range of tools to help exporting SMEs overcome customs burdens, such as the export voucher-based "Export Baro Program" and emergency management stabilization fund support.

Finally, discussions were also held on building a safety net for SMEs and small business owners, including recovery systems for large-scale disasters. Minister Han meticulously checked the recovery status of traditional markets and SMEs and small business owners affected by flooding in July, and comprehensively reviewed the disaster recovery system and initial response measures, including policy finance consultations and application support for disaster-affected SMEs and inspections of electrical safety facilities.

Minister Han stated, "The government is making every effort to revitalize domestic demand as a priming water for restoring people's livelihoods," and added, "We will review every possible measure that can inject vitality into the local economy." She further emphasized, "Although conditions have been established to trade with major countries on equal or superior terms through customs negotiations, the reorganization of the international trade order will continue to accelerate, so please provide thorough support to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs to respond to this."