Korean Ministry of SMEs Expands Support for Medium Enterprises through Jump-up Program

On the 12th, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, led by Minister Han Seong-sook, along with the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency under President Kang Seok-jin, announced the hosting of a 'Networking Day' at the agency's Gangwon Training Center in Taebaek on the 11th and 12th. This initiative is aimed at enhancing inter-communication among new participating companies in the Jump-up Program and gathering onsite feedback to create a solid foundation for their growth.

The Jump-up Program is a comprehensive development initiative designed for promising medium enterprises with over seven years of operational history, featuring three years of support that includes expert guidance, business funding, inter-company exchanges, and policy linkages. Originally launched last year, this program serves as a catalyst for growth to transform participating companies into mid-sized enterprises, with 100 new participants officially commencing their growth journeys this year.

The Networking Day was structured to address common challenges faced by these enterprises during their new business endeavors and growth processes, thereby refining their operational strategies while strengthening the collaboration and co-growth framework among participating companies. Approximately 80 attendees included representatives and executives from the new cohort, as well as key officials such as Kwon Soon-jae from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Ban Jeong-sik from the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.

Day one covered critical growth strategies essential for transitioning into mid-sized enterprises, including an explanation of the 2026 Jump-up Program operational plans, feedback sessions for business refinement, sharing of best practices from first cohort companies (presented by Kim Sang-baek of Inscape), a special lecture by Yoon Dong-han, the chairman of Korea Kolmar, and a leadership development seminar led by Professor Jeong Dong-il from Yonsei University.

Specifically, the Ministry and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency plan to incorporate the feedback gathered from this event into strategic enhancements for the Jump-up Program, aiming to analyze growth barriers across revenue segments and refine tailored support across different phases.

The second day included a trekking activity at the source of the Han River, known as Geomyeongso, reflecting on the significance of growth and elevation while fostering bonds among the enterprises.

Beginning with this inaugural Networking Day, the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency intends to bolster support for Jump-up Program participants by implementing regional consultation offices connecting with the agency and its affiliated institutions, as well as facilitating the establishment of regional consortia among participating companies for sustained communication and collaboration.

Ban Jeong-sik, Director of Regional Innovation at the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, remarked that this Networking Day serves as a critical starting point for the second cohort of participants to share growth visions and have their voices directly reflected in policy-making. He emphasized the commitment to refine the support system of the Jump-up Program based on participant feedback, empowering these enterprises to emerge as representative medium firms of their regions.