사진 확대

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Ministry of SMEs and Startups Noh Yong-seok, acting first vice minister, said on the 27th that it has newly designated 300 100-year small business owners (150 100-year-old stores and 150 100-year-old small business owners) in 2026 to foster and spread a successful model of outstanding small business owners who have contributed to the development of the community based on their long experience and technology.

A 100-year small business owner refers to a small business owner who operates a business for a long period of time, contributes to the development of the community, and is expected to grow continuously based on accumulated experience and technology. Among them, "100 Years' Shop" targets small business owners who have built trust by operating restaurants, wholesale and retail businesses for more than 30 years, while "100 Years' Small Manufacturers" targets small manufacturers who have been in the manufacturing industry for more than 15 years and have continued their skilled skills and craftsmanship.

Since 2018, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has designated and fostered centennial small business owners representing the region, and through this new designation, the total number of centennial small business owners nationwide has been expanded to 2,598 (1545 centennial stores and 1,053 centennial small business owners).

747 companies from all over the country applied for the recruitment, recording a competition ratio of about 2.5 to 1. In particular, small business owners in the non-metropolitan area, which have supported the local economy for a long time, are expected to account for 62.7% (188 companies) of all designated companies, further contributing to revitalizing the local economy and balanced regional development.

The applicants were finally selected after comprehensive review by the document evaluation, field evaluation, and selection review committee, and were evaluated not only for their business history, but also for management sustainability, product and service competitiveness, and contribution to the community.

Newly designated companies will be provided with a storyboard containing the company's history and operating philosophy along with a signboard certified as "100 Years' Store" and "100 Years' Small Manufacturer." It also supports various preferential support benefits such as preferential policy funds for small business owners, support for growth of strong small business owners, and additional points when applying for small business support projects.

In addition, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups is strengthening public-private cooperation such as Lotte Well Food, Korea Expressway Corporation, and Korail Distribution to expand the consumer contact point of the "100-year-old small business owner" brand. Through this, various sales expansion projects are being promoted, such as creating exclusive stores, supporting online and offline platforms, and holding excellent product exhibitions in connection with the companion festival.