▲ Prime Minister Kim Min-seok delivers an address at an annual convention for small and medium-sized enterprises in Seoul on May 19, 2026. (Yonhap)

prime minister-SMEs

PM promises to build startup-centered society

SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- The government of President Lee Jae Myung aims to make South Korea a better place to start businesses based on artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Tuesday, promising to build a society where anyone can start a business as long as they have ideas.

Kim made the remarks at an annual convention for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), stressing what is more important than anything else for South Korea's economy is to help SMEs play a role and grow, so that smaller firms and conglomerates prosper together and the benefits of their growth are shared by the people.

"The Lee Jae Myung government will build a startup-centered society based on AI and cutting-edge technologies. We will strengthen the platform that enables anyone to start a business anywhere as long as they have ideas," Kim said, promising deregulation and other support measures.

Kim also said the government will help accelerate the transition to AI by spreading AI technologies to SMEs from conglomerates, while establishing a "coexistence value chain" between SMEs and conglomerates so that the fruits of conglomerates' exports lead to an increase in sales at SMEs.

"Out of all the companies in South Korea, 99 percent are SMEs. Only when they grow can the constitution of South Korea's economy change and the Republic of Korea leap forward," Kim said, referring to the country by its official name.

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