SME Sector Holds 'SME Workforce Forum' to Address Retirement Age Extension

To Be Held on August 11

The Korea Association for Small and Medium Business Policy Studies announced on July 28, 2026, that it will hold a "SME Workforce Forum" in collaboration with the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business and the Korea Small and Medium Business Institute to address the issue of extending the retirement age.

Panoramic View of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business

The SME Workforce Forum will take place on August 11, 2026, at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The forum is being organized to respond to recent policy changes regarding the extension of the retirement age and youth employment, and to explore ways to promote win-win employment among younger and older generations in SMEs.

The event will begin with an opening address by Kwang Myungsoo, president of the Korea Association for Small and Medium Business Policy Studies, a welcoming address by Oh Kiwoong, executive vice president of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, and a congratulatory message from Cho Joohyun, president of the Korea Small and Medium Business Institute. This will be followed by a presentation from Noh Minseon, director at the Korea Small and Medium Business Institute, on the topic of "Strategies to Promote Intergenerational Win-Win Employment among Young and Senior Workers in SMEs."

In the subsequent comprehensive discussion, Chaewoon Lim, professor emeritus at Sogang University, will serve as moderator, joined by Kwon Soonjae, director of Regional Enterprise Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups; Gil Hyeonjong, senior research fellow at the Korea Labor Institute; Yang Oksuk, director of the Human Resources Policy Division at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business; Lee Jeongmin, professor at Seoul National University; and Choi Jangho, professor at Sogang University. They will engage in an in-depth discussion on field cases and policy improvements for SMEs.

Kwang Myungsoo, president of the Korea Association for Small and Medium Business Policy Studies, stated, "This forum is an opportunity to pool the insights of various experts on changes in workforce policy and seek practical policy alternatives," adding, "We expect this will provide substantial policy support during future discussions about extending the retirement age."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.