Lee So-young, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, stated, "If appointed as minister, I will go beyond support policies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, and ease unreasonable regulations with the mindset of a minister for regulatory reform."

On her way to work at the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency in Yeouido, Seoul, today (the 31st), Nominee Lee met with reporters and said, "I will pour my capability and drive into reflecting on our regulatory approach itself."

She further emphasized, "I will ensure that an incident like 'Tada' never happens again in South Korea."

This appears to refer to the amendment to the Passenger Transport Service Act, commonly known as the "anti-Tada law," which effectively banned the business model of the past rental car-based ride-hailing service "Tada."

Nominee Lee pointed out, "No matter how much mentoring and support the government provides to founders, if they are blocked by regulations, their ideas will inevitably be snuffed out. In the realm of innovation creating new services and products, I believe our dense and multi-layered regulatory approach is the biggest obstacle."

Regarding the SME sector, she promised, "Recently, centered around large export conglomerates, we are experiencing an unprecedented boom, but the warmth of that shining boom must spread to small SMEs as well. I will check the current status and prepare policy solutions."

In the micro-enterprise and small business sector, she explained, "I also have the experience of growing up with just my mother during my childhood, making a living by waiting on customers and taking delivery orders every day at the small restaurant she ran. I will ponder how to alleviate such hardships for small business owners facing difficult circumstances."

Regarding her expertise in the SME and small business sector, Nominee Lee responded, "I am proud to have faithfully carried out legislative activities related to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups over my approximately six years of legislative service. While serving as the secretary of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, I deeply dealt with various budgets such as the management recovery of small business owners, boosting consumption in neighborhood commercial districts, and the artificial intelligence transformation (AX) of SMEs, thereby drawing significant increases."

To the point that concerns have been raised in the local community regarding her concurrently holding the positions of cabinet minister and member of the National Assembly, she said, "While performing the duties of minister, I will faithfully make efforts to balance both so as not to lose touch with the local community."

Nominee Lee stated, "I plan to visit organizations related to SMEs, small businesses, and venture startups this week. Based on the expertise and experience in legislation and budgeting that I have built up so far, I believe I can implement policies that will be helpful to SMEs, startups, and small business owners."

(Photo: Yonhap News)