South Korea’s startup, SME, micro-enterprise and venture organizations have urged the government to accelerate regulatory reform, support AI and digital transformation, reduce operating costs and strengthen the KOSDAQ market as artificial intelligence intensifies global competition. The calls followed Lee So-young’s appointment as Minister of SMEs and Startups, which President Lee Jae-myung approved, and included priorities raised by Kim Jae-won, chairman of the Korea Startup Forum and CEO of Elice Group. The Korea Startup Forum separately welcomed Lee’s appointment on the 23rd, citing her prior work as a lawyer and environmental expert and her legislative involvement in industry and SME and venture issues. It highlighted her participation in revisions to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and Commercial Act, including issues involving emerging industries and the capital market. The forum urged Lee to strengthen startups’ growth foundations, support promising companies in AI and deep tech, expand venture investment, improve communication with the field and help startups scale into global markets. Kim said South Korea needs startups able to compete globally, proactive reform of rules affecting AI, autonomous driving and telemedicine, and a more active capital market. Business groups also called for expanded regulatory sandboxes, working-hour rules suited to venture companies, institutional investment in KOSDAQ, and exit routes beyond initial public offerings, including mergers and acquisitions and secondary share transactions. The Korea Startup Forum, founded in 2016 with about 50 startups, now has more than 2,900 member companies, while the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise said nearly one million businesses close each year.