, Minister of SMEs and Startups Nominee… 'Practical' Figure Who Bridged the Venture Field and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Committee

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On the 30th, Lee So-young, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker nominated as the candidate for Minister of SMEs and Startups (Ministry of SMEs and Startups), is a two-term lawmaker who has consistently addressed startup and venture ecosystems and small business owner policies in the National Assembly. In particular, she has been an active core member of 'Unicorn Farm,' a National Assembly research group on startups involving Yeo Ya (Rep.), focusing on improving regulations for new industries and creating an environment for innovative entrepreneurship.

Born in 1985, the candidate graduated from Sungkyunkwan University's Department of Law and passed the 51st Judicial Examination in 2009 before working as a lawyer at Kim & Chang law firm. She entered politics in the 2020 21st General Election as a Ji Yeok-gu (Rep.) for Uiwang-Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, and successfully won re-election in 2024.

From the early days of entering politics, she treated startups as one of her key policy areas. In her 2020 legislative report, she adopted the title 'Turning Korean Startups into Global Economic Leaders.' After joining the National Assembly, she participated in Unicorn Farm, a startup research group, to identify on-the-ground regulations and discuss measures for institutional improvements.

Unicorn Farm was launched at the end of 2020 and expanded in 2022 into an official National Assembly lawmaker research group involving Yeo Ya (Rep.). The group focuses on identifying regulations in the startup field and improving them through legislation. Lee Hae-min, a Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker who has been nominated as Secretary to the President and AI Chief of Staff, is also a member.

During the 21st National Assembly, the candidate served as a member of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Small and Medium Venture Company Committee, addressing not only startup and venture promotion measures but also various issues related to local commerce and small business owners, such as Nonghyup Gift Certificates. This means she has experienced both major pillars of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups—venture entrepreneurship and support for small business owners—from the legislative branch.

Currently, in the 22nd National Assembly, she serves as secretary of the Climate Crisis Special Committee. With her legal background providing expertise in climate and environmental issues combined with startup policy experience, she is expected to strongly drive policies for nurturing deep-tech startups led by climate tech and transitioning to eco-friendly manufacturing.

The candidate is scheduled to be officially appointed next month after undergoing a National Assembly confirmation hearing. This comes 61 days after Han Seong-suk (Prime Minister) stepped down as Minister of SMEs and Startups on June 30.

On this day, Korea Startup Forum, the country's largest startup organization, expressed its welcome regarding the candidate's nomination, stating, "The candidate understands the growth logic of new industries including climate tech and has addressed various issues facing small and medium-sized and venture companies through her activities in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Small and Medium Venture Company Committee, making her a suitable person who knows both policy and the field."

She added, "We look forward to her becoming a reliable partner leading the transition of South Korea to an 'Era of National Entrepreneurship' and driving the leap of the startup ecosystem."

[MoneyToday Startup Media Platform Unicorn Factory]