Top 10 Issues for SMEs and Small Business Owners Next Year: Pension Fund Venture Investment, Technology Gap

6th KOSI Symposium
"Pension Fund Venture Investment Requires Phased Limit Design and More"

The top 10 issues that will represent the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small business sector next year have been selected, including pension fund venture investment, the digital technology adoption gap, and the expanded application of the Labor Standards Act. Experts unanimously agreed that it is necessary to manage related risks from a mid- to long-term perspective, rather than relying solely on short-term measures.

Top 10 Issues for SMEs and Small Business Owners Next Year: Pension Fund Venture Investment, Technology Gap

The Small and Medium Business Venture Institute held the 6th KOSI Symposium at Simseok Hall of the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, under the theme "Top 10 Issues and Response Directions for Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Business Owners in 2026." The Small and Medium Business Venture Institute...

On December 29, the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute held the 6th KOSI Symposium at Simseok Hall of the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, under the theme "Top 10 Issues and Response Directions for Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Business Owners in 2026."

Yongwook Sun, Associate Research Fellow at the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute, announced the top 10 issues for SMEs and small business owners for next year, which were selected through a survey of industry stakeholders and experts. The 10 issues were categorized into three areas: ▲Business Management ▲Technology & Environment ▲Politics & Society.

In the area of business management, the key issues identified were ▲diversification of SME export structures ▲institutionalization of pension fund venture investment ▲securing a global sales base for small business owners ▲improvement of small business owners' business structures.

In the technology & environment area, the main issues were ▲the digital technology adoption gap among companies ▲response to climate change and green transition. In the politics & society area, the selected issues were ▲expanded application of the Labor Standards Act ▲gradual extension of the statutory retirement age ▲changes in employment structure due to artificial intelligence (AI) utilization ▲fairness in the online platform ecosystem.

Associate Research Fellow Sun emphasized, "The year 2026 will be a crucial time for SMEs to diversify their export structures, as the United States and China are strengthening their own country-first policies. It is necessary to provide tailored policy support for each target, such as institutionalizing pension fund venture investment and securing a global sales base for small business owners." He added, "Sustainable growth of the SME and small business ecosystem will be possible when companies' own efforts and active government policy support are pursued in harmony."

In the subsequent comprehensive discussion, Byunghun Lee, Professor at Kwangwoon University, served as moderator. The panel included Ribin Seo, Professor at Soongsil University; Yunhyeong Nam, Senior Research Fellow at the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute; Gwonsik Kim, Head of the Start-up and Venture Innovation Research Division at the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute; and Sujeong Jeong, Head of the Small Business & Coexistence Research Division at the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute. They discussed key issues and policy response directions for each area.

Professor Seo stressed, "The institutionalization of pension fund venture investment carries both policy expectations for expanding growth capital and the risk of conflict between the fiduciary responsibility of pension funds and policy objectives. Illiquidity, valuation uncertainty, and gaps in expertise could increase management costs. Rather than mandating target allocations, the focus should be on indirect investment, phased limits, conflict-of-interest controls, liquidity checks, and standardization of performance data." She also suggested, "It is necessary to expand the pool of asset managers, promote competition, and structurally block the possibility of political intervention."

Senior Research Fellow Nam explained, "The issues selected appropriately reflect recent trends such as exports, digitalization, climate change, and workforce in relation to SMEs. Comparing these with issues faced by overseas SMEs would also be meaningful. It is necessary to develop these into specific policies through future research and to take the lead in SME policy issues through focused initiatives."

Kim, Head of the Start-up and Venture Innovation Research Division, suggested, "Expanding pension fund venture investment is essential as a catalyst for future growth, but it is necessary to first ensure a balance between flexible operation and risk management according to the characteristics of each fund." He added, "Moving away from uniform software support, SMEs must strengthen their practical capabilities through digital transformation tailored to on-site needs, such as robotics and automation, and by fostering AI professionals."

Jeong, Head of the Small Business & Coexistence Research Division, stated, "To overcome the management difficulties of small business owners, it is necessary to secure a global sales base. Policies on tourism, transportation, and taxation should be integrated so that traditional markets and shopping districts can serve as 'mini duty-free shops.' Regarding platform issues, while awaiting the passage of fairness legislation, it is urgent to establish practical systems that can prevent damage to small business owners and enable stakeholders to coexist."

Joo Hyun Cho, President of the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute, is speaking at the 6th KOSI Symposium held at Simseok Hall of the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the theme of "Top 10 Issues and Response Directions for Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Business Owners in 2026." SMBVI

The panelists agreed on the expected benefits of expanding pension fund venture investment, while emphasizing the importance of fiduciary responsibility, risk management, and securing expertise. They also concurred on the need for policy design based on on-site demand to strengthen SMEs' digital transformation and AI utilization capabilities.

Joo Hyun Cho, President of the Small and Medium Business Venture Institute, stated, "The management environment for SMEs and small business owners is undergoing structural changes due to prolonged high interest rates and high inflation, global uncertainty, and demographic shifts. It is important to diagnose key risks and proactively prepare policy directions from a mid- to long-term perspective, rather than relying on short-term measures." He added, "I hope that the discussions at this symposium will serve as valuable reference material for preparing future policies for SMEs and small business owners."