SMEs ministry opens public vote for shared-growth awards

The SMEs ministry said Tuesday it will open a nine-day public vote Aug. 5 to help choose nominees for this year's Win-Win Company Awards. The ministry said the purpose is to spread shared-growth values across society by involving the public from candidate nominations through final selection.

Candidates were selected after an evaluation by a public recommendation review panel and a recommendation from the Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership. Finalists include 15 individuals and 15 organizations. Voters can review their detailed shared-growth records on the commission's website and, after identity verification, cast three ballots in each category, for a total of six votes. Voting is also available by smartphone and closes at midnight Aug. 13.

Public voting will account for 50 points in choosing government-award nominees, alongside 50 points from the public recommendation panel's evaluation. A merits review committee will then deliberate on the candidates.

"This vote, in which the public directly participates in selecting shared-growth companies, will be a forum for shared growth created jointly by companies and the public," Lee Eun-cheong, director-general for shared-growth policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said.

Winners are scheduled to be announced Nov. 26 at a Shared Growth Week ceremony. The ministry plans to present 97 awards, comprising 17 government honors and 80 ministerial commendations. The government honors include two orders of merit, an industrial service medal and seven commendations each from the president and prime minister.