South Korea’s SME, micro-enterprise and venture organizations have welcomed Lee So-young’s appointment as Minister of SMEs and Startups, calling for regulatory rationalization, lower operating costs and reforms to strengthen the KOSDAQ market. Lee began her term the previous day after President Lee Jae-myung approved her appointment. The Korea Federation of SMEs urged action on high interest rates, high inflation and weak domestic demand, alongside clearer recognition of SMEs in national growth strategies and support for AI transformation and digital innovation. The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise called for a social safety net, platform coexistence and regular consultation with business owners, citing the closure of nearly one million businesses each year. Venture groups prioritized expanding regulatory sandboxes, reforming working-hour rules and making KOSDAQ more responsive to companies’ growth stages. The Korea Venture Capital Association called for institutional investors to enter KOSDAQ, more active mergers and acquisitions and secondary share transactions, and stronger pension-fund participation in venture investment. The Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association sought policies supporting women-led startups, new market channels and increased investment. Lee said she would find answers in the field and act dynamically when necessary.