The Small Business Market Promotion Agency (SBMPA) announced on September 2 that it appointed six experts as honorary directors during a ceremony held on September 1 at Dream Square in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
The honorary director system aims to incorporate diverse opinions from the private sector into the agency's management and policies by appointing external individuals with expertise and field experience related to small businesses and local economies.
The newly appointed honorary directors include broadcaster Hong Seok-cheon, who has contributed to revitalizing the Itaewon alley economy; Ryu Eun-hye, a government-certified cultural interpreter from France; Kim Hyun-sung, an advisor to the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee; Kim Eun-hee, a director of the Citizens' Alliance for Creating Walkable Cities; Yang Jun-ho, co-representative of the National Network for Local Circular Economy; and Shin Gyu-cheol, head of the Education Department at the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises.
These directors will serve as a bridge connecting small business policies with on-the-ground realities, leveraging their expertise and experience for various initiatives. The SBMPA plans to continue appointing experts from various fields as honorary directors to foster management innovation and policy outcomes that the public can feel.
In a statement, SBMPA Chairman In Tae-yeon said, “We will listen more broadly to the voices from the field with our honorary directors and connect the expertise and experience from various fields to small business policies. We are committed to discovering the value of small businesses and creating vibrant local economies.”
Meanwhile, the SBMPA is also focusing on revitalizing local economies alongside alleyway businesses. In a speech at the 2026 Summer Academic Conference of the Korean Association for Local Government Studies held on August 27, Chairman In emphasized, “Sustainable development in regions is possible when local communities leverage their unique resources and capabilities to solve on-the-ground issues together. The SBMPA will strengthen cooperation with local governments and communities to be a reliable ally for small businesses and traditional markets.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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