Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced Sunday that Rep. Lee So-young of the Democratic Party of Korea had been nominated as minister of SMEs and Startups. Lee, born in 1985, is a lawyer-turned-lawmaker serving her second term in the National Assembly. [Lee So-young's office]
Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced Sunday that Rep. Lee So-young of the Democratic Party of Korea had been nominated as minister of SMEs and Startups. Lee, born in 1985, is a lawyer-turned-lawmaker serving her second term in the National Assembly. [Lee So-young's office]

Two-term lawmaker born in 1985 brings SME and venture policy experience from industry committee

Women's business group calls nomination a milestone for generational and gender diversity

The Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association has welcomed the nomination of Rep. Lee So-young of the Democratic Party of Korea as minister of SMEs and Startups.

The association issued a statement Sunday saying it "sincerely welcomes" the nomination of Lee as minister of SMEs and Startups under the Lee Jae Myung administration.

The group described Lee as a legal expert with a background as a practicing lawyer who, through two terms in the National Assembly — the 21st and 22nd — and her work on the Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, has built a solid understanding of small and medium-sized enterprise and venture policy.

President Lee Jae Myung nominated her Sunday to head the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, filling the vacancy left when former Minister Han Sung-sook moved to the prime minister's post. Born in 1985, Lee worked as a lawyer and climate and environment specialist before entering the Assembly through the 2020 general election and winning re-election in the 2024 general election.

The association also highlighted Lee's role as the lead sponsor of the Carbon Neutrality Basic Act, noting her efforts to develop policy for sustainable growth and industrial transition. It said her expertise in environment, climate and energy issues — areas directly tied to the competitiveness of small businesses — was expected to inform her approach to SME and venture policy.

The group said it was "deeply meaningful" that a female politician born in 1985 had been tapped to oversee SME and venture policy, calling the appointment a demonstration of the government's commitment to diversity and inclusion by bringing the perspectives of a younger generation and female leadership into national governance.

The association also laid out its expectations for women's enterprise policy, urging Lee to incorporate the voices of women-owned businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners into policy. It stressed the importance of encouraging challenge and innovation among diverse economic actors, including women and youth.

It said the ministry should help small businesses adapt to a changing industrial environment — including AI and digital transformation and the shift toward carbon neutrality — by supporting innovation-driven growth and securing new engines of development.

The association called on Lee to actively pursue effective policies for women-owned businesses, including measures to promote women's entrepreneurship, support their innovation-driven growth, and expand market access and investment opportunities.

It added that the group would work as a steadfast partner to support a new leap forward for women-owned businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners, and to advance the sustainable growth of the South Korean economy.


hong@heraldcorp.com