Lee So-young begins tenure as Minister of SMEs and Startups

Lee So-young Ministry of SMEs and Startups Onnuri Gift Certificate traditional markets confirmation hearing

The National Assembly has adopted the personnel hearing report for Lee So-young, the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups. While the report includes a consensus on the adoption, it contains conflicting views: the Democratic Party expressed confidence in her policy capabilities and legislative experience, whereas the People Power Party raised concerns regarding her tax compliance, real estate holdings, and lack of specialized expertise in the SME sector.

Following her appointment, Minister Lee conducted her first field visit to traditional markets in Suwon. During her visit to the Suwon Nammun Market area, she pledged to strengthen support for local merchants by accelerating reforms to the Onnuri Gift Certificate system to increase consumer benefits. She also emphasized the need for enhanced disaster prevention facilities and customized support systems for small business owners.

The Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association welcomed her appointment, noting her background as a legal expert and former lawmaker, expressing hope that her leadership will foster a more robust ecosystem for female entrepreneurship and startups.