The Korea SMEs and Startups Agency holds the inauguration ceremony for the 18th Chairman Kim Hak-do at its headquarters in Jinju on May 19. (Photo: Korea SMEs and Startups Agency)

Kim Hak-do, former vice minister of SMEs and startups, took office on May 18 as 18th chairman to take the helm of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.

“By continuing the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency’s 41-year-long efforts to foster small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and venture startups, I will put my utmost efforts into playing the roles of a driving force in leading the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency to become Korea’s best support organization for SMEs and venture startups,” Chairman Kim said in the inauguration ceremony held at the agency headquarters in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province on the afternoon of the day.

Then, Chairman Kim emphasized the importance of overcoming the novel coronavirus crisis and announced four major innovation measures to focus on a post-COVID-19 era.

The four innovations measures were manufacturing innovation and job creation through smartization and digitalization; fostering innovation-based growing companies by boosting operational effectiveness and efficiency; Improving service quality and organizational performances by enhancing professional competence and talent; and focusing on customer-centered management through stronger communications with those in the field.

In particular, Chairman Kim pledged to concentrate all of the agency’s capabilities to develop policies that meet industrial structures in the future and foster promising innovation-powered companies.

In order to succeed in the Korean version of the New Deal Project, Chairman Kim came up with a blueprint to create new jobs by preparing measures to support eco-friendly sectors. It also calls for the promotion of innovation-driven growth for SMEs and venture startups in a post-coronavirus era focused on supporting new industrial sectors such as AI, big data, and smart manufacturing by industry types.

To this end, Chairman Kim presented a specific vision to set up a relay system to provide financing, export support, human resources development, and start-up technology support.

Therefore, SMEs and venture startups will be able to conveniently use policy funding, marketing, a non-face-to-face online export support platform, a global AI startup academy, and human resources development for smart manufacturing.

“In order to present a vision for SMEs to a post-coronavirus era, it will be necessary to innovate in all fields including business, customer service, organization and personnel,” Chairman Kim emphasized.

“I will make the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency an organic and systematic organization based on professionalism and efficiency.” Thus, Kim is planning to draw up a 100-day innovation plan by assembling a team with volunteers among employees.

To top it off, Kim announced that he will head up the organization with management principles of communications and harmony, change and innovation, integrity and fairness, and a bright and vibrant organizational culture.

Meanwhile, Chairman Kim visited Aspic, an auto parts manufacturing company in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province as his first official schedule.

The manufacturing company maintains employment of 120 people even in a rapidly deteriorating business environment despite a 35 percent decrease in sales arising from the spread of the COVID-19 plague.

“Even in the current situation where exports have plummeted due to the COVID-19 crisis, you are greatly contributing to job security,” Chairman Kim said in a meeting with CEO Lee Ga-sang.

“By strengthening communications with those in the field, I will listen to the opinions of those working at SMEs and startups and make good use of their opinions in developing differentiated projects and services.”

Chairman Kim was born and grew up in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. He passed the 31st civil service examination, and served as a policy maker, trade negotiator, spokesperson and the head of energy and resources at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, director of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology and vice minister of SMEs and startups.

The Moon Jae-in administration tabbed Kim as vice minister of SMEs and startups. Through this process, Kim has been recognized as a specialist in SME policies.