Sogang professor heads state institution for small firms

By Lee Hyo-sik

A former Sogang University professor has been appointed to head the Small and Medium Business Corp. (SBC), which facilitates the growth of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here. An inauguration ceremony was held for Lim Chae-un, 59, at the company’s headquarters in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, on Jan. 19.

Born in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Lim received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Sogang University in 1980 and a Ph.D. from Minnesota University in 1991. He was a professor of business administration at Sogang University from 1995 until he became the SBC CEO. Lim also served as the chairman of the Korea Distribution Association.

“Small companies are struggling to make ends meet amid sluggish domestic consumption. They are also having a hard time in finding workers,” Lim said. “We all have an important task of resolving a host of problems facing small businesses and helping boost the sagging domestic economy.”

The SBC is a government-funded organization set up in 1979 to provide financial, management and other services to SMEs.

Lim said he will place top priority on enabling small firms to stand on their own and make inroads into foreign markets.