[New Year's Address] Kim Kimon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business: "2026 to Mark the First Year of Restoring the SME Growth Ladder"

"New Opportunities for Growth with the Spirit of Jagangbulshik"
Six Key Priorities Announced, Including Support for AI Adoption

Kim Kimon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, has declared 2026 as the "first year of restoring the growth ladder for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)." He announced plans to focus policy efforts so that SMEs and small business owners can once again become central to the economy.

In his New Year's address on December 29, Chairman Kim stated, "2026 will be a crucial turning point for Korea to overcome the complex crises it faces and create new growth engines," adding, "To achieve this, not only the government and the National Assembly, but all citizens must accurately recognize the reality of the Korean economy and unite to demonstrate the capacity to overcome these challenges."

Kim Kimoon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business.

He explained, "SMEs have faced significant burdens in exports and investments due to the US-led tariff wars, non-tariff barriers from the EU, and low-cost competition from China. Meanwhile, changes in the demographic structure have led to shrinking domestic demand and entrenched low growth." However, he noted, "Despite these challenges, SME products such as K-Beauty and K-Food have gained recognition for their competitiveness in the global market, leading to record-high SME export performance."

Regarding next year's SME policy direction, he said, "Of the 8.3 million businesses in our country, about 95% are small business owners, while only 4.7% are small and medium-sized enterprises, resulting in a pin-shaped structure." He continued, "We will shift our policy focus from 'survival' to 'growth' and concentrate all efforts of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business on restoring the growth ladder that enables small business owners to become small enterprises, and small enterprises to grow into medium-sized enterprises."

The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business has presented six key priorities for next year: supporting SMEs in adopting and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI); creating a fair market environment; restoring the growth ladder for small business owners and small enterprises; expanding SME entry into global markets; regulatory reform and innovation in labor structures; and revitalizing regional SMEs and local economies.

Meanwhile, the SME sector has chosen the four-character idiom "Jagangbulshik" (自强不息), meaning "to strengthen oneself and move forward without stopping," as its outlook for the coming year. Chairman Kim commented, "If SMEs and small business owners continue to take on challenges with the spirit of Jagangbulshik, even in difficult domestic and global conditions, they will be able to create new opportunities for growth." He added, "The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business will also stand alongside SMEs and small business owners on the ground, based on the spirit of Jagangbulshik, to ensure their steady growth."