The 2026 Small Business Leaders Forum, the largest annual event for the small business sector, concluded successfully.
According to the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, the forum took place in Jeju from October 20 to 23, attracting over 400 small business leaders from various regions and industries.
Participants focused on designing innovation and growth strategies for small businesses under the theme, "Together with Small Businesses, Towards Becoming an AI Powerhouse."
National Assembly Speaker Chung Jin-suk and Prime Minister Han Seung-soo encouraged attendees through video messages. Notable speakers included novelist Kim Hong-sin, Park Yong-woo, director of the Obesity Clinic at Gangbuk Samsung Hospital, Chungbuk Governor Shin Yong-han, docent Jeong Woo-cheol, Father Hwang Chang-yeon, Jinwoo Lee, deputy representative of Simpro TV, fortune teller Park Sung-jun, and Kim Hyung-tae, CEO of TBWA, all of whom received positive feedback from attendees.
On the second day, a discussion on "Innovation Policies for Small Businesses in the Era of Physical AI" featured experts from government, academia, and industry, including Park Young-sun, chair of the Strategic Economic Advisory Committee at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Jo Joo-hyun, president of the Small and Medium Business Research Institute, and Kim Jun-ha, dean of the AI Policy Strategy Graduate School at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. They discussed step-by-step support policies tailored to the needs of small businesses.
Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee So-young also attended on October 20, outlining policy directions to support the growth and advancement of small businesses. She emphasized the need to identify and improve unreasonable regulations and expand opportunities for small businesses to participate in three major mega projects.
Kim Ki-moon, president of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, stated, "Since its inception in 2007, the Leaders Forum has established itself as a premier forum for the small business community. I hope this forum has provided small businesses, which recognize the necessity of AI but struggle with implementation, the time to prepare effectively."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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