Small-business federation opens 2026 SME Leaders Forum in Jeju on AI, 400 CEOs attend
In short
The Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises held the opening of its 19th SME Leaders Forum at Lotte Hotel Jeju on 20 October. About 400 small-business representatives attend through 23 October under the theme of making South Korea a top-three AI power. Federation chief Kim Ki-mun said the gap in AI use between large and small firms risks deepening economic polarization.
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The Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (중소기업중앙회) opened the 2026 SME Leaders Forum at Lotte Hotel Jeju on 20 October, according to Yonhap, Newsis and Electronic Times. The federation had announced on 19 October that the forum would run from 20 to 23 October, with about 400 representatives of small and medium-sized firms from industries and regions across the country attending. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
This year's theme is 'With SMEs, to a top-three AI power'. Yonhap said the event was arranged to look for ways for South Korea to become one of the world's top three AI powers through the innovation and growth of small and medium-sized firms. It is the 19th edition of the forum. [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The programme includes lectures by novelist Kim Hong-sin (김홍신), titled 'You know it when you live it, just live', and by Father Hwang Chang-yeon (황창연) of the Saint Philip ecological village, titled 'A proud life'. Other lecturers include Park Yong-woo of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital's obesity clinic and Lee Jin-woo, deputy head of 3Pro TV. Newsis reported that Kim Hong-sin gave his lecture after the opening. A debate titled 'Innovation strategies for SMEs in the physical AI era' opens with a keynote by Park Young-sun, head of the strategic economy advisory group at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, followed by experts from government, business and academia discussing AI use and competitiveness. Electronic Times and Newsis said the debate is on 21 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 14 ]
In his opening address, federation chief Kim Ki-mun (김기문) said the economy is enjoying a boom led by semiconductors, cars and shipbuilding, while small firms face deepening 'K-shaped polarization'. He said corporate bankruptcies and bank delinquency rates are at record highs and unpaid wages exceed 2 trillion won. He added that many people worry the AI gap between large and small firms will accelerate polarization, and that South Korea would fall behind if it fails to become a top-three AI power now. [ 12 , 14 , 15 ]
National Assembly Speaker Jo Jeong-sik (조정식) and Prime Minister Han Seong-suk (한성숙) sent congratulatory messages by video. Han said AI had advanced in a year to performing complex tasks on its own, and that South Korea's AI innovation is possible only if SMEs achieve theirs. [ 12 , 14 ]
Electronic Times quoted attendees on the difficulty of adopting AI. Kim Seong-tae, head of the Korea Industrial Supplies Association, said AI gives small manufacturers a fearful sense of crisis. Oh Geun-ho, head of the Siheung Tool Mall Cooperative, asked for sector-specific pilot cases and tailored training. Park Pyeong-jae of the Korea Surface Treatment Industry Cooperative said many firms in his industry have not yet automated, so AI adoption is far off. [ 12 ]
At the forum the federation also set up a promotion and experience zone for Noran Usan (노란우산), a mutual aid scheme it has run since 2007 for small businesses. It said enrolment exceeded 1.92 million as of October. [ 9 , 10 ]
Why it matters
The forum puts AI adoption by small and medium-sized firms on the agenda of an annual gathering of their representatives. Attendees quoted by Electronic Times said they lack know-how, staff and funds to start, so the debate on 21 October is where concrete approaches are due to be discussed.
Key facts
- The Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises said on 19 October it would hold the 2026 SME Leaders Forum at Lotte Hotel Jeju from 20 to 23 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- About 400 representatives of small and medium-sized firms from industries and regions across the country are attending. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 12 ]
- The forum's theme is 'With SMEs, to a top-three AI power', and this is its 19th edition. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 12 ]
- Park Young-sun, head of the strategic economy advisory group at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, gives the keynote at a debate on innovation strategies for SMEs in the physical AI era. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The opening ceremony was held on 20 October, with video congratulatory messages from the National Assembly speaker and the prime minister. [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- Kim Ki-mun said SME bankruptcies and bank delinquency rates are at record highs and unpaid wages exceed 2 trillion won. [ 12 , 14 , 15 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The 2026 SME Leaders Forum runs from 20 to 23 October at Lotte Hotel Jeju with about 400 small-business representatives. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 12 , 13 ]
- The forum's theme is 'With SMEs, to a top-three AI power' and it is the 19th edition. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 12 ]
- Novelist Kim Hong-sin and Father Hwang Chang-yeon are among the lecturers. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The opening ceremony took place on 20 October. [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]
Still unclear
- Outcomes of the 21 October debate on SME innovation strategies in the physical AI era. The documents only describe the planned agenda: expanded AI use at manufacturing sites, productivity and technology competitiveness.
- Newsis described the forum as the largest annual forum for 8.5 million SME owners. Only Newsis gives this description.