Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business Hosts 2025 Year-End Night... Naver's Chae Sunjoo Named Exemplary Company for Mutual Growth

Recognized for Promoting AI Adoption Among Local Small Businesses
Twelve Lawmakers, Including Seo Youngkyo, Receive Invitation Award
Charter of Rights Proclaimed to Safeguard Status and Rights of Small Business Owners

An awards ceremony was held to honor politicians who contributed to the proposal of bills and the development of policies related to small businesses this year, as well as exemplary companies that have supported the growth of small businesses. The Invitation Award was presented to Assemblywoman Seo Youngkyo of the Democratic Party of Korea, Assemblywoman Lim Ija of the People Power Party, and others, while Chae Sunjoo, Head of Strategic Business at Naver, was selected as an exemplary company representative for mutual growth.

(Photo by Sogongyeon) Song Chiyoung, president of the Federation of Small and Medium Business, is taking a commemorative photo at the "2025 Invitation Awards Ceremony and Year-End Night" held at the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

On December 12, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business announced that it held the "2025 Invitation Awards Ceremony and Year-End Night" at the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by more than 400 people, including the award-winning members of the National Assembly, heads of local governments, journalists, Lee Byungkwon, Second Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups, and Kim Jihyung, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council.

In the first part of the event, twelve members of the National Assembly, including Seo Youngkyo of the Democratic Party of Korea and Lim Ija of the People Power Party, received the Invitation Award. This award is given to lawmakers who have contributed to legislative activities and policy proposals related to small businesses. The "Mokmin Appreciation Plaque," which embodies the spirit of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, was awarded to Kim Taeheum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province, Choi Kyungsik, Mayor of Namwon in North Jeolla Province, and Song Kiseop, Governor of Jincheon County in North Chungcheong Province.

Song Chiyoung, President of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, stated, "We will continue to support all members of the National Assembly and local government officials who are receiving awards today so that they can be even more proactive in their legislative activities and problem-solving efforts for small businesses."

Song Chiyoung, President of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (left), and Chae Sunjoo, Head of Strategic Business at Naver (right), are taking a commemorative photo at the '2025 Invitation Awards Ceremony and Year-End Night' held at the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

In the second part of the event, Naver (represented by Chae Sunjoo, Head of Strategic Business) and Korea Asset Management Corporation (represented by Jung Junghoon) were selected as exemplary companies for mutual growth and received plaques of appreciation. Chae Sunjoo was recognized for her contribution to enhancing the competitiveness of small businesses, including supporting the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) among local small businesses through a business agreement with the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business.

The event also included the official proclamation of the "Charter of Rights for Small Businesses," which outlines the status, rights, and responsibilities of small business owners. The proclamation ceremony was attended by President Song, Lee Chunghwan, President of the National Merchants Association, and Kim Wooseok, President of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association. Starting with the organizations that attended this proclamation, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business plans to launch awareness campaigns to promote the rights of small business owners, reduce customer harm, and eradicate fraud.

President Song stated, "The special funding for diligent repayers proposed at the Chungcheong region town hall meeting has been accepted, leading to the provision of 10 trillion won in special funds for diligent small business repayers, the introduction of a long-term installment repayment program for loan principals, and the expansion of eligibility for the New Start Fund. Among these, I believe the biggest achievement this year was the establishment of a vice minister exclusively in charge of small businesses, which the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business proposed as the first of its 110 policy tasks to the political community." He added, "Next year, we will continue to pursue the revision of the Small Business Welfare Act and the establishment of a policy research institute, making it a year in which the recovery of small business owners' economic conditions and rights can truly begin in earnest."