"40% of Ministry of SMEs and Startups Directors Born in the 1980s"... Hansung Sook's Performance-Oriented, Seniority-Breaking Appointments

Ministry of SMEs and Startups Breaks Seniority Tradition, Appoints Talent Based on Performance
"Discovering Innovative Policies Like Startups"?Reflecting Minister Hansung Sook's Philosophy
Second Vice Minister's Office Strengthened, Appointments Combine Planning and Execution Skills

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has broken away from the traditional seniority-based system and appointed a director in their 30s to a key position, emphasizing a performance-oriented approach to talent selection. Reflecting Minister Hansung Sook's philosophy of selecting talent based on performance and capability, about 40% of director-level positions have been filled with those born in the 1980s.

On February 1, the Ministry announced that it would implement director-level promotions and appointments effective February 2, aiming to enhance the outcomes of national policy tasks and promote the growth of SMEs, startups, and small business owners.

Hansung-sook, Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is attending the Startup Venture Relay Meeting 'Startup Rookie Open Talk' held at Deepstown S6 in Gangnam-gu on the 30th, delivering a greeting. 2025.10.30 Photo by Dongju Yoon

The Ministry stressed that, just as startups solve problems differently from large corporations with a unique perspective, it has also selected talent based on performance in order to break away from bureaucracy and discover and implement innovative policies.

Through this performance- and capability-based talent selection, more than 40% of the ministry's directors at headquarters are now in their 30s, born in the 1980s. Directors in their 30s have been appointed to key positions. In this round of appointments, Kim Seungtaek, Director of Innovation Administration, and Kim Hyenam, Director of Small Business Promotion, both born in 1989 and in their mid-30s, were promoted to director-level positions.

Since her inauguration, Minister Hansung Sook has made bold appointments such as Kim Minji (born in 1985) as Director of Operations Support and Lee Hojung (born in 1986) as Director of Information Technology. This reflects her determination to break the tradition of seniority-based appointments and to transform the organization into a more flexible and innovative one by hiring talent solely based on performance and capability.

The ministry also strengthened the personnel of the Second Vice Minister's Office, which is dedicated to small business owners. To achieve "precise execution"-providing timely and accurate support to policy beneficiaries based on data-the ministry appointed Yoon Jungu (Director of Traditional Markets) and Jeong Euikyung (Director of Business Area Adjustment), both with proven practical abilities, to key positions in the Second Vice Minister's Office.

Moving away from a personnel policy that prioritized experience, the ministry has established a dynamic organizational structure by appointing individuals with both planning and execution capabilities, enabling real-time reflection of voices from the field into policy.

Practical talent with field experience and professional expertise has also been deployed to the forefront. Individuals who have demonstrated results in the field and accumulated practical knowledge have been appointed as regional office heads (Lee Sunseok, Incheon Regional Office; Seo Jongpil, Gangwon Regional Office) and as directors at headquarters (Park Hyeyoung, Director of Special Zone Support), ensuring that field-oriented policies are implemented.

Jeong Sehwan, an official with expertise in technology, was promoted to Director of Technology Development, while Shin Jaekyung, who has extensive experience and understanding in the field of small business, was appointed as Director of Local Commercial Districts, enhancing the continuity and effectiveness of policies.

Minister Hansung Sook stated, "Based on a dynamic, performance-oriented organizational culture, I will make the Ministry of SMEs and Startups an even more innovative organization," adding, "Through precise policy execution centered on the Second Vice Minister's Office, we will bring about meaningful changes that SMEs and small business owners can truly feel."

<Ministry of SMEs and Startups>

◆ Director-level Promotions

▲ Kim Seungtaek, Director of Innovation Administration, Science and Technology Official

▲ Jeong Sehwan, Director of Technology Development, Science and Technology Official

▲ Kim Hyenam, Director of Small Business Growth Promotion, Official

▲ Seo Jongpil, Director of Gangwon Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, Science and Technology Official

◆ Director-level Transfers

▲ Park Seungrok, Director of Daejeon Sejong Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, Deputy Director-General

▲ Kim Minsu, Director of Strategic Analysis and Development, Official

▲ Kwak Jaekyung, Director of SME Artificial Intelligence Expansion Task Force, Science and Technology Official

▲ Hwang Sunhee, Director of Investment Management and Supervision, Official

▲ Park Hyeyoung, Director of Special Zone Support, Official

▲ Shin Jaekyung, Director of Local Commercial Districts, Science and Technology Official

▲ Yoon Jungu, Director of Traditional Markets, Official

▲ Jeong Euikyung, Director of Business Area Adjustment, Official

▲ Lee Sunseok, Director of Incheon Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, Science and Technology Official

▲ Lee Jongtaek, Director of Regional Policy, Seoul Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, Official

▲ Lee Sangjeon, Director of Regional Policy, Daegu Gyeongbuk Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, Official

▲ Jeong Seungkuk, Director of Regional Policy, Gwangju Jeonnam Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, Science and Technology Official