[New Year's Address] Chairman Jinshik Choi of the Federation of Korean Middle Market Enterprises: "We Must Establish a Solid Foundation for Robust Economic Resurgence in 2026"

Emphasizing the Role of Middle Market Enterprises in Driving "Genuine Growth" and Strengthening K-Industry Competitiveness

Jinshik Choi, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Middle Market Enterprises, emphasized that in 2026, the positive news of a bullish KOSPI and the recovery of exports should be linked to strengthening sustainable industrial fundamentals, thereby laying a solid foundation for a robust economic resurgence.

Jin-Sik Choi, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Middle Market Enterprises

On December 29, in his "2026 New Year's Address," Chairman Choi stated, "We must ensure that the national energy, which has overcome martial law and surmounted trade and security crises, continues to flow even more vigorously." He added, "Through close cooperation between the public and private sectors, we need to reach reasonable agreements for innovative reforms in laws, systems, and policy paradigms that maximize the vitality of enterprises-the core of national wealth creation. At the same time, we should expand constructive paths for labor-management coexistence and foster a richer livelihood for the people through active capital circulation."

Chairman Choi proposed a "Great Rearrangement" across industries as a way to accelerate genuine, long-term growth. He explained, "By strengthening the representative competitiveness of each sector and industry, large corporations should secure their own strongholds, while middle market and small enterprises must also establish their own bases in response to their capabilities and the economic and social demands placed upon them. Based on voluntary cooperation among companies, we should form invincible fleets of top performers in each sector and industry to compete in the global market, while actively supporting efficient business restructuring through artificial intelligence transformation (AX) to further enhance the diversity at the foundation of our industries."

Chairman Choi also pointed out that the spread of protectionism, supply chain instability, high interest rates and exchange rates, the climate and environmental crisis as a global challenge, and the anxieties of low birth rates and an aging population threatening the sustainability of our communities, all continue to persist. He stated, "With the world's best technological prowess, middle market enterprises have steadily established the future growth engines of our industries-including not only traditional manufacturing but also K-semiconductors, K-defense, K-bio, K-beauty, K-food, and K-content, which are all receiving global acclaim. Now is the time for these middle market enterprises to faithfully fulfill their rightful mission as the core of the Korean economy."

He further said, "We will communicate even more closely with the government and the National Assembly to drastically ease the management burdens on middle market enterprises and to spread a rational perception of businesses, thereby providing opportunities for lifelong dedication to be a source of pride." He continued, "As a hub for exchange and cooperation encompassing the entire middle market sector, we will discuss and concretely implement effective measures to promote the development of Korea's economy and industries."