Seo Seung-won, head of the Gyeonggi Regional Small and Medium Administration (Gyeonggi Regional SMBA), is one of the most active public office holders in Korea. Touring worksites of SMEs every day with support policies tailored to meet their needs, Seo is a warm-hearted and energetic elite public office holder.
“One-third of the SMEs in Korea cluster in Gyeongi-do,” he said. “There are many prominent SMEs that boast advanced technology and create many jobs, but they suffer the difficulties, caused by the sagging global economy and the sluggish domestic demand. I do not spare efforts to do my best in performing my responsibility of boosting SMEs of the region.” “Of late, we’re lending an ear to the voices of the field to take preemptive and aggressive steps to cope with such side effects of the MERS epidemic as a downturn and sluggish domestic demand SMEs and small business owners experience and to fulfill our roles and responsibility of reinvigorating regional economies as well,” Seo said. He went on to say that all of Gyeonggi Regional SMBA staff are being dispatched to the most devastated traditional markets along with SME-related organizations to gather filed information and opinions, and they have bought necessities with “Onnuri” gift certificates to ease the sagging business situation of the traditional markets.
“We are going to play a bridge to the establishment of field-oriented policies,” Seo noted.
The Gyeonggi Regional SMBA chief notes that mandatory purchase of items produced by SMEs brings benefits to smaller companies. Seo said his administration keeps monitoring whether public entities stick to their obligation and take administrative steps against violators. Public organizations are asked to make private contracts to purchase products from SMEs in the initial stage of technology development to ease the difficulties caused by lack of information, and to hold joint purchase negotiations sessions with SMEs as well. Gyeonggi Regional SMBA strives to offer active marketing support via social network services, said Seo. To that end, he said his administration has already secured the necessary budget, and it plans to hold marketing events with large-scale retailers and vendors.
Seo said his administration has set aside 6.196 billion won to help 393 SMEs hailing from the province explore foreign markets. Each beneficiary is given 20 million won to 30 million won in financial support. Beneficiaries are involved in such marketing expenses as education for exporters, developing designs for publicity activities, online exports, participation in domestic and foreign exhibitions and developing global brands. Gyeonggi Regional SMBA offers such support tailored to meet clients’ demands as product and design technology development of the furniture industry and the establishment of a task force designed to make the province a center of the textile industry. Seo is now stepping up efforts to remove the shackle of regulations from SMEs, which is a problem that has long plagued them. His determined efforts to promote regulatory reforms are gaining momentum. “Regulations are essentially in a perspective, but they need to be revised and eased according to changes in the economic situation and industrial conditions,” he said.
Seo said he wishes to put himself in SMEs’ shoes. He believes his role as the chief of the Gyeonggi Regional SMBA is to represent SMEs’ positions as clients and lend an ear to their voices.
The head of the Gyeonggi SMBA enjoys popularity among his staff, since he is so attentive to helping them meeting their potential. Seo, a graduate of Seoul National University’s Economics Department, obtained a doctorate in economics from University of Colorado. He worked at the International Cooperation Office and Planning and Budget Office of the Ministry of Trade, Industry (MOTIE) after passing a higher civil service examination in 1988. Seo also held such positions within the Small and Medium Business Administration (SMBA) as the chief of the Venture Promotion Department, the head of the Innovative Personnel Management and Planning Team and director-general in charge of policy public relations and director-general for startup and venture.
Seo has abundant stints related to SMEs with MOTIE and SMBA, and he is no stranger when it comes to promoting SMEs. He has written such books as “Venture Capital Economics,” and “Keys to Success in Angel Investments.”
Seo has been credited with his strenuous efforts to give a shot in the arm of the Northern Office, established in March 23, with the goal of nurturing SMEs in the district. He frequently holds teleconferences with businesses in the northern district that specializes in textile and furniture.
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