Contributing to economic growth and job creation

Outstanding women entrepreneurs honored

Policy forums, online joint recruitment fair among events

Lee Byeong-gwon, second vice minister of SMEs and Startups [Ministry of SMEs and Startups]
Lee Byeong-gwon, second vice minister of SMEs and Startups [Ministry of SMEs and Startups]

The fifth Women's Business Week, an annual event where women entrepreneurs share innovation achievements and explore growth strategies, kicked off Tuesday.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association held the opening ceremony at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. This year's event adopted the slogan "Women's businesses growing through technology, connecting through sensibility," highlighting the role and vision of women-led companies in the age of AI and digital transformation.

Now in its fifth year, Women's Business Week is co-organized by a coalition of women's business groups, including the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association, the Korea Women Venture Association, the Korea Women Inventors Association, the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association and the Federation of Korean Women's Science and Technology Associations.

About 500 people attended the opening ceremony, including women entrepreneurs, officials from related agencies, small and medium-sized enterprise associations and representatives from emerging industry sectors. The event also featured a government awards ceremony honoring women entrepreneurs who have contributed to economic growth and job creation. Recipients received one Gold Tower Industrial Medal, one Silver Tower Industrial Medal, one Industrial Service Medal, four presidential commendations and seven prime ministerial commendations.

Kim Yeon-seon, CEO of Daehan OK Steel, received the Gold Tower Industrial Medal. Kim was recognized for 47 years of work in the cold-rolled steel manufacturing and retail sectors, during which she expanded her production base to Dangjin in South Chungcheong Province and Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province, contributing to regional job creation.

Nam Mi-gyeong, CEO of Han Mandu Food, an agricultural corporation, received the Silver Tower Industrial Medal. Nam was credited with pioneering the frozen mandu market by launching a series of differentiated products — including galbi mandu and spicy octopus mandu — and for her efforts to build a family-friendly workplace.

Following the opening ceremony, Women's Business Week will continue with a policy forum, an awards ceremony for a women's startup competition and a merchandise director consultation session to strengthen market access for women-owned businesses. Throughout July, an online joint recruitment fair and an online showcase of outstanding products from women-led companies will also run, with commemorative events held across 21 regions nationwide.

This year's Women's Business Week goes beyond a ceremonial occasion, with a focus on strengthening the competitiveness of women-led businesses in the age of AI and digital transformation. Women-owned companies have increasingly been expanding into manufacturing innovation, research and development, and global markets.

Park Chang-suk, president of the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association, said, "Countless women entrepreneurs are achieving growth through technology and innovation at their own workplaces." She added, "I hope this event becomes a new driving force that confirms the strength of Korea's women-led businesses and propels them toward an even greater future."

Lee Byeong-gwon, second vice minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "As technology advances, the ability to read others' emotions with sensitivity and communicate effectively will become a source of competitive advantage for businesses." He added, "We will listen carefully to voices from the field and provide robust support so that women entrepreneurs with outstanding technological capabilities and empathetic leadership can lead the new wave."


boo@heraldcorp.com