The Korea Small Business Distribution Center has completed the formation of its personnel recommendation committee and is now preparing to select a new leader. This transition is expected to trigger a domino effect of leadership changes across key agencies under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
According to government sources on July 19, Han Yu-won established the committee earlier this month and has begun the process of selecting the next CEO. The current CEO, Lee Tae-sik, officially completed his term on April 13, but has remained in position due to the absence of a successor. As the agency is responsible for implementing on-the-ground policies, the activation of the committee has intensified competition for the leadership role.
With the formation of the committee, Han Yu-won is expected to follow the lead of the Technology Guarantee Fund, which appointed Kwon Hyung-taek as its chairman on July 15. The leadership changes will also include Kang Seok-jin, whose term as chairman of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, and Kim Young-shin, head of the Korea Institute of Small and Medium Enterprise Technology, both expire on August 31.
These changes mean that the heads of major agencies responsible for small business policies—such as the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, which oversees funding and exports, the Korea Smart Factory and R&D Agency, and Han Yu-won, which facilitates distribution and market access—will all be replaced in the second half of this year.
Additionally, the chair of the Shared Growth Committee, Lee Dal-gon, will see his term end in September, further contributing to the anticipated leadership shakeup.
However, the final appointments are expected to take some time due to political considerations and procedural requirements. Typically, the selection process for public agency heads involves forming a committee, announcing the position, conducting document and interview evaluations, and then undergoing verification by the presidential office after the minister's recommendation.
Delays in the appointment schedule are also anticipated due to the ongoing changes in the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, including the replacement of the minister and the prime minister. Currently, the ministry is operating under the acting leadership of First Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok. While various candidates from political circles and the business community are being discussed, no clear frontrunner has emerged. The next minister is expected to address issues such as the resolution of the 'Everyone's Startup' data breach, the transition of small businesses to artificial intelligence, and the activation of venture investments.
A source from one of the agencies noted, "The timing of filling the vacancy in the ministry must align with the appointment of the new minister. Considering this, it is likely that the current structure will remain in place until the regular National Assembly session in September and the subsequent National Assembly audits in October, with new leaders emerging only after the audits conclude at the end of October."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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