Lee So-young, minister of SMEs and startups, pledged active support to help South Korea's small and medium-sized enterprises play a leading role in the country's next phase of growth. She also promised to draw up a strategy for autonomous manufacturing based on physical artificial intelligence to strengthen the technological competitiveness of domestic SMEs, along with expanded support for the transition to carbon neutrality.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 SME Leaders Forum at the Lotte Hotel Jeju on the 20th, Lee said, "Coming to the ministry, I was reminded again of how much work there is to do." She added, "As South Korea writes a new chapter of growth in the era of the AI revolution, it is my duty to ensure that our SMEs — not just a handful of large conglomerates — stand at the center as the main players."
"I will actively voice opinions and seek out a role so that SMEs can play a bigger part and speak up in large national growth projects going forward," she said. "I cannot do this alone. If the SME leaders here join forces and lend their support, we will be able to accomplish far more."
Lee also outlined policy directions for supporting SME growth in the AI era. "SMEs face new challenges from shifts in the global trade environment, supply chain uncertainty and advances in AI technology," she said. "We will back them through field-centered policies so that they can go beyond merely responding to change and leap forward as a new growth engine for the Korean economy."
To strengthen competitiveness on the factory floor, the ministry plans to establish and pursue a physical AI-based autonomous manufacturing strategy and to expand support for carbon neutrality efforts. Lee also stressed that the government would improve the effectiveness of administrative sanctions against technology theft to better protect SME technology, and would actively identify and reform unreasonable regulations that block innovation and risk-taking by smaller companies.
"Under the principle that policy begins in the field, we will faithfully reflect the voices of SME owners in policy and create an environment where companies can innovate and take on challenges freely," Lee said.
The SME Leaders Forum is an annual gathering hosted by the Korea Federation of SMEs and serves as the sector's flagship event for exchange and communication among chief executives. This year's forum, held from the 20th through the 23rd under the theme "Together With SMEs, Toward Becoming a Top Three AI Power," drew about 400 participants, including heads of SMEs from various industries and regions.