2025 Small Business Complex Support Center Host Organizations 2 Final Selections

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Oh Young-joo, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups) announced on Wednesday the 5th that  it has finally selected  Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do as the main organizations for the Small Business Complex Support Center to revitalize and establish the foundation for  the  Small Business Cluster ^{* .}

  * Small business cluster area: an area where the number of small businesses in the same industry exceeds the standard for each administrative district and is designated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups upon application by the local government (currently, there are 56 small business cluster areas in operation nationwide)

  The Small Business Complex Support Center is a  complex  support facility exclusively for small businesses, tailored to the characteristics of each region and industry, including cutting-edge equipment required for small business product development and introduction of intelligent (smart) technology, product exhibition, sales, experience, education, and online promotion (marketing)  . The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the main organizations (local governments) provide one-stop support for small businesses’ product planning, joint production, market development, and business model  discovery through the  complex support centers , and have built  and operated  11 complex  support centers  in small business  clusters to date. 

  Gyeongsan City, Gyeongbuk, which was selected this time,  is an area where small businesses in the metal processing products and machinery equipment industries  are concentrated . Due to the nature of the industry, expensive equipment and facilities are required, and by establishing and operating cutting-edge processing facilities and equipment that can be jointly utilized through the center, it is expected that the burden of facilities on individual small businesses will be greatly reduced.

  In addition, this is a specialized high-tech industrial complex where small and medium-sized companies in the automobile, battery, and semiconductor industries are concentrated in addition to small and medium-sized businesses, and an organic cooperative ecosystem has been formed between these companies and small and medium-sized businesses. Small and medium-sized businesses play a central role in supplying parts and materials within this large-scale industrial ecosystem.

Accordingly, it is expected that the establishment of this complex support center will help to enhance the competitiveness of local industries by strengthening cooperation between finished product manufacturers and  small and medium-sized businesses manufacturing parts and materials as the technological prowess and production capacity of small and medium-sized businesses improves .  

  Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do,  was designated as the Muan Ceramic Complex Industrial Special Zone in 2023 , establishing a foundation for fostering the ceramic industry at the national level.  This region  has formed the largest  cluster  of living ceramics ( household and decorative ceramics ) in the country, where all processes of the ceramic industry, from securing clay raw materials to production and wholesale and retail distribution, are perfectly established .

  Muan County  plans to develop this small business support center in the ceramics field into a complex cultural space that goes beyond a simple manufacturing support facility and includes a new product development lab ,  design space ,  exhibition and sales area , and  experience program operation facilities .

This is to create a new business model that combines industry , tourism , and culture   by linking traditional ceramic manufacturing with ceramic culture, a representative tourist resource of the region. It  is expected  to maximize the synergy effect between industry and tourism through a win-win strategy of mutual growth that provides new sales channels and added value creation opportunities for ceramic artisans and differentiated cultural experiences for tourists.

  Choi Won-young, Director of the Small Business Policy Office, said, “ The two regions selected this time have  distinctive industrial bases, namely, advanced manufacturing and traditional craft industries, respectively , so the operational effects of the Small Business Complex Support Center are expected to be maximized. ” He added, “In particular, we plan to establish a foundation for sustainable growth for small businesses by reducing the management burden on individual small businesses through the center and supporting joint marketing and sales channel development.”