[2025 Audit] Hansung Sook Admits Shortcomings in Smart Factory Data Collection Management...Promises Improvements

"Related Areas Must Be Further Advanced"

Hansung Sook, Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated that there were shortcomings in monitoring the data collection status of companies selected for the Smart Factory Support Project and pledged to make improvements going forward.

Hansung Sook, Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is reporting on business affairs at the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee's audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on October 14, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On October 14, during the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups by the Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee held in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Minister Han responded to a question from Assemblyman Heo Seongmu of the Democratic Party of Korea, who asked, "Are you checking whether high-quality data is being accumulated by companies selected for the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Support Project?"

Assemblyman Heo pointed out, "For the transition to artificial intelligence (AI) to be effective, companies that have established smart factories must continuously accumulate high-quality data," adding, "To achieve this, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups must regularly inspect whether high-quality standard data is being continuously accumulated for each industrial sector."

In response, Minister Han said, "There were some shortcomings in data management," and added, "Some companies are not collecting data well, while others are doing a good job. I believe there is a need to further advance these related areas in the future."

The Smart Manufacturing Innovation Support Project was first launched in 2015 to support small and medium-sized enterprises in establishing and advancing smart factories. When the Ministry of SMEs and Startups provides project funding through the Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs, the agency supports up to 50% of the project costs for consortiums formed by smart factory suppliers and demand companies. The budget for this project increased from 195.9 billion won last year to approximately 278 billion won this year.