Ministry of SMEs and Startups Appoints Jo Gyeongwon as New Head of Small Business Policy Office

Previously served as Director General for Small Business Policy and Director General for Startup Policy, among other roles.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups appointed Jo Gyeongwon, 55, the current Director General for Startup Policy, as head of the Small Business Policy Office on Nov. 6.

Jo, who is from North Jeolla Province, joined the civil service in 2002 after graduating from Seoul National University's Department of Business Administration and passing the 45th Higher Civil Service Examination. He has worked at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups for more than 20 years, serving as Director General for Small Business Policy and Director General for Startup Policy, among other positions. He also worked as an administrative officer at the Office of the Secretary for Self-Employed Businesses in the Presidential Office.

Cho Kyungwon, newly appointed head of the Small Business Policy Office at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

While serving as Director General for Small Business Policy, he proactively pursued policies closely tailored to the needs of small business owners facing business difficulties due to high prices and high interest rates. These included expanding the supply of policy loans, boosting the vitality of commercial districts, and holding the Donghaeng Festival. He also took part in establishing a support system for "entrepreneurial small business owners (Licons)" and introducing commercial district planners and neighborhood commercial district development centers.

As Director General for Startup Policy, he worked to advance and globalize the startup support system through initiatives including the development of "startup cities," the "Challenge for All" open innovation program, TIPS, and the Super-Gap Project. He also oversaw the "Startup Project for All."

Lee Soyoung, Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "Director Jo is the right person to overcome the current crisis facing the small business sector and lead future-oriented policy agendas."

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