Second Vice Minister Lee Byungkwon: "Fostering Small Manufacturer Clusters as Digital Innovation Hubs"

9th Small Business Growth Relay Meeting
Exploring Strategies to Enhance Competitiveness at Busan Small Manufacturer Cluster

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on January 20 that it held the 9th Small Business Growth Relay Meeting at the Busan Beomil Garment Manufacturing Specialized Support Center, under the theme of “Revitalizing Small Manufacturer Clusters and Enhancing Competitiveness.”

This meeting was the ninth in the “Small Business Growth-Focused Relay Meeting Season 2,” which has been ongoing since November of last year. The Ministry organized the event to focus on fostering small manufacturer clusters, bringing together about 12 participants, including four representatives from different sectors and experts in the field.

Lee Byungkwon, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, toured the shared cutting room and startup space at the Busan Beomil Garment Manufacturing Specialized Support Center, reaffirming the strength of Beomil-dong in Busan, which has served as the heart of Korea’s garment industry for over a century. He also commended the efforts of small manufacturers who are preserving traditional values and preparing for manufacturing innovation on the foundation of skilled craftsmanship cultivated since the establishment of Joseon Textile in 1917.

Lee Byungkwon, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

During the following meeting, Lee Jinguk, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Development Institute, gave a presentation on “Fostering Small Manufacturer Clusters as Core Growth Hubs for the Regional Economy.” He stated, “Aging small manufacturer clusters should be redesigned based on smart infrastructure, and specialized support centers should evolve beyond simple administrative support to become business hubs where small manufacturers can jointly secure work and generate revenue.”

Yoon Miyoung, Director of the Jeonbuk Venture Industry Development Council, shared a case in which metal processing small manufacturers entered the global market by leveraging the joint brand “So Goods” and shared infrastructure. Lee Kyunghee, Director of the Busan Beomil Garment Manufacturing Specialized Support Center, presented a case where the introduction of shared infrastructure such as smart automatic cutting machines increased productivity and enabled the digitalization of skilled craftsmanship, which is now being passed on to younger generations.

Second Vice Minister Lee stated, “Clusters with long histories, like Beomil-dong in Dong-gu, Busan, are the strong roots that have supported our manufacturing industry and are the cherished foundation of life built by the dedication of small manufacturers. We will foster small manufacturer clusters as innovation hubs where traditional skills and advanced digital technologies coexist, creating an environment where small manufacturers can work with pride.”