President Yoon tells small and medium-sized business people, ”If you tell us about your difficulties, we will resolve all possible issues” - South Korean media

President Yoon Seok-yeol held a conference for small and medium-sized business owners at the Presidential Office in Yongsan to encourage those who have made great efforts for economic development. This year marks the third consecutive year that the conference has been held.
According to the presidential office, President Yoon hosted the 2024 Korea Small and Medium Business Conference on the 23rd, where he and the heads of 11 government ministries, the heads of six major companies, and the heads of small and medium business associations attended.
About 500 people participated, including representatives of exporting companies and overseas companies. President Yoon said at the event, "Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the economy, accounting for 99 percent of Korean companies, and 80 percent of workers work there with their sweat.
"Only when small and medium-sized enterprises are successful will employment increase and the lives of the people improve," the presidential office quoted him as saying.
President Yoon continued, "I and my government will reform regulations to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises in Korea to grow even further, and make it easier to start up businesses.
"We will create an environment in which people can do business together," he said, emphasizing, "We will step up our sales diplomacy to capture the global market and turn 8 billion people into our customers."
He added, "We will provide strong support to small and medium-sized enterprises, venture companies, and start-ups that are competitive enough to enter the global market."
President Yoon then posed for a photo with the managers of small and medium-sized businesses who attended the event, saying, "If you have any difficulties while running your business, please talk to the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises or the Ministry of Small, Medium and Startup Businesses.
I will solve all the problems I can solve after receiving reports," he said. When a representative of a small and medium-sized business called out to President Yoon, "Please do your best," President Yoon replied, "Entrepreneurs,
"We need to work harder," he said. The event, now in its 35th year, is themed on "globalization of small and medium-sized enterprises," and for the first time, it is promoting trade with Korea and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Ambassadors from 12 countries that sent many foreign workers to Korea participated in the conference and had direct contact with managers of small and medium-sized export companies.
A total of 92 government awards were presented to entrepreneurs, exemplary workers, successful laborers, and outstanding organizations. At the event, President Yoon awarded the Golden Tower Industrial Medal and other awards to 11 small and medium-sized business owners.