SMEs ministry launches nationwide counseling tour for struggling small merchants

The SMEs ministry said it will launch a nationwide tour of comprehensive counseling sessions starting August 28 to help small merchants overcome management crises and heavy debt burdens.

The first session is scheduled for Friday at Raicon Town in Daejeon, with subsequent stops planned across 14 regions through the end of October. Organized in partnership with local regional offices and the Small Enterprise and Market Service, the events are open to any small merchant located in the host regions at no cost.

Participants will have access to one-on-one consultations covering management diagnosis, policy funding, credit guarantees, debt adjustment, support for business closure or restart, and labor and marketing consulting.

Attendees will receive a free management diagnosis report that analyzes local commercial conditions and sales trends to help set future business directions.

Recent statistics highlighted by the ministry show that while the total number of closed businesses fell by 32,000 last year to 976,000, the closure rate in six major sectors dominated by small merchants was 11.08 percent, significantly higher than the national average of 8.64 percent. Furthermore, 68.5 percent of those who closed their doors carried an average debt of 85.3 million won.

"We have significantly strengthened on-site contact points so that no small merchants miss out on benefits due to unfamiliarity with government support systems or lose their golden timing by worrying alone," said Park Sang-yong, the ministry's director for small merchant management stability support. "We hope this counseling session will serve as a substantial pillar for overcoming management crises and standing up again."

Detailed schedules and venues for the remaining regions will be announced via the Small Enterprise and Market Service website as they are finalized.