South Korea must boost SMEs as fertility declines, OECD says

Report advises streamlining complex government support programs for smaller firms

20240712 SK shipyards

A shipyard in Busan, South Korea. Small- and medium-size enterprises have "considerable untapped potential" beyond supplying conglomerates, an OECD report said. © Reuters

STEVEN BOROWIEC, Nikkei staff writer

SEJONG, South Korea -- South Korea's export-oriented growth model requires a "decisive upgrade" that involves narrowing the productivity gap between smaller companies and the conglomerates that dominate the economy, argues a report released on Thursday.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of developed countries, identified South Korea's small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) as key to maintaining economic growth amid challenges such as the country's declining fertility rate.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.