KOSME President Park Jaeho's First Words: "I Will Find Answers in the Field"

Park Jaeho Takes Office as KOSME's 20th President
His First Move Is a Visit to a Business Site

Park Jaeho, the newly appointed president of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), said in his inaugural remarks that he would find answers in the field and prove results through changes at small and medium-sized enterprises and startups. His first move after taking office was also to visit a business site.

KOSME said President Park held his inauguration ceremony at the agency's headquarters in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, on Nov. 13 and officially began his term as its 20th president. In his inaugural address, Park outlined the agency's operating principles, which he will put into practice with its employees: ▲ strengthening communication by listening to businesses in the field and employees ▲ supporting businesses in ways that deliver tangible change and growth ▲ operating the organization fairly and with integrity.

Park Jaeho, chairman of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, delivers his inaugural address at his inauguration ceremony on the 13th.

He stressed that he would visit businesses in person, communicate with employees, and promptly address difficulties they face in the field. He also said he would continuously review the business performance of companies receiving support, actively incorporate areas for improvement, and eliminate unreasonable practices to establish a fair and transparent work culture. "As we approach our 50th anniversary, KOSME must prepare for a new leap forward," he said, adding, "We must develop into an organization that drives greater growth and ambition among small and medium-sized enterprises and startups."

For his first official engagement as president, Park visited Dongyang, a manufacturer of powertrain parts for electric and hybrid vehicles located in Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do. Dongyang has achieved manufacturing innovation by building a smart factory based on robotic automation and using it for quality forecasting and equipment maintenance and management. Park toured the production site and discussed challenges in pursuing manufacturing innovation and support needed for future growth. He also pledged to connect businesses with the support they need, including policy financing and workforce training, so that small and medium-sized enterprises and startups can respond to changes in the industrial environment and secure new growth opportunities through manufacturing innovation.

Born in Busan, Park graduated from the Department of French at Busan University of Foreign Studies and earned a master's degree from the Graduate School of Public Administration at Chung-Ang University. He has served as a political affairs secretary in the Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs' Office, president of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, and a member of the 20th and 21st National Assemblies.

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