The small and venture business community has unanimously welcomed President Lee Jaemyung's 2026 New Year's address. They cited the timeliness of his stated commitment to achieving a major transformation through the growth of all small and venture businesses.
On January 1, the Korea Federation of SMEs issued a statement, saying, "We welcome the President's New Year's address, which aims to make 2026 the inaugural year of Korea's great leap forward." The statement continued, "We have high expectations because the President has declared that now is the time for everyone to invest in the nation's growth, and that by supporting a transition to an AI- and energy-focused society centered on entrepreneurship and innovation, we can open an era in which both small and venture/startup companies grow together."
The federation also stated, "Regarding region-led growth, we hope that the voices of local small businesses, which are key players in regional economies, will be sufficiently reflected in future policies to create a favorable business environment in the provinces." It emphasized, "As proud agents of innovation and growth, the small business community will do its utmost to help Korea overcome the current low-growth crisis and achieve a major transformation toward growth and development, through AI adoption and utilization, expansion into global markets, and more."
On the same day, the Korea Venture Business Association also commented on President Lee's address, saying, "The regional growth strategy that breaks away from the Seoul metropolitan area's dominance, the state philosophy of spreading the fruits of growth beyond large corporations to small and venture businesses, and the clear commitment to a 'startup-centered society' are all extremely timely for improving the structure of our economy and securing future growth engines."
The association went on to say, "Amidst structural changes such as the AI transition, energy transformation, and the reorganization of global supply chains, venture and startup companies are at the forefront of national innovation, creating new industries and jobs. The policy direction presented in this New Year's address is an important signal that further supports this role." It added, "We will work closely with the government and National Assembly to create a policy environment that removes regulatory, financial, talent, and market access barriers hindering the growth and scaling up of innovative companies, so that the shift from an employment-centered society to a startup-centered society becomes a tangible reality, not just rhetoric."
The Korea Venture Business Association added, "To make 2026 the inaugural year of Korea's great leap forward, we will fulfill our responsibility as leading agents of national growth, putting the tasks of transformation into practice so that our economy can break free from the cycle of low growth and leap forward once again."
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