Hanjin’s Cho Hyunmin: “Practicing Mutual Growth to Revitalize SMEs and Startups”

Keynote Speech at the 2026 World Small and Medium Enterprises Conference

Cho Hyunmin, President of Hanjin, called for the creation of a "fair market" and the establishment of a "people-centered symbiotic ecosystem" to ensure sustainable corporate growth at the "2026 World Small and Medium Enterprises Conference Global Summit," the world's most prestigious international organization for small and medium enterprises.

Cho Hyun-min, President of Hanjin, urged the creation of a "fair market" and the establishment of a "people-centered mutually beneficial ecosystem" for the sustainable growth of companies at the "2026 World Conference of the World Small and Medium Enterprises Association," the world's most prestigious international organization for small and medium enterprises. Hanjin

On July 6, Hanjin announced that President Cho attended the international academic event held on July 1 (local time) in Washington, D.C., United States, where she delivered a keynote speech and participated in a panel discussion alongside global scholars and women leaders.

President Cho gave her keynote address at the "Global Voice: Entrepreneurship Without Borders" session, which took place at the Rayburn Building, the U.S. House of Representatives office building.

President Cho emphasized, "What women executives truly want in any country around the world is not policy-based preferential treatment, but a fair market where they can compete based on merit." She explained that women leaders wish to be chosen not simply because of the label "woman," but because of their company’s excellence, credibility, and the individual’s suitability for the business at hand.

She went on to stress the need for a market environment free of unnecessary barriers, calling for the guarantee of genuine contract opportunities that go beyond superficial rhetoric, the establishment of transparent evaluation criteria, and the provision of effective financial support tailored to each company’s stage of growth.

In particular, President Cho underscored the importance of viewing women entrepreneurs not merely as subjects of protection, but as "agents of innovation." She explained that women executives are responsible leaders who drive job creation, innovate supply chains, and solve community challenges, thus leading the transformation of national economies and industrial paradigms.

She also presented the perspective that policies supporting women entrepreneurs are linked to "people-centered entrepreneurship," which revitalizes the entire industrial ecosystem.

Based on this philosophy of mutual growth, Hanjin actively provides support services for small business owners. Through its "One Click" service, which supports the entire logistics process for e-commerce startups, and the "One Star" service, Korea’s first logistics service specialized for influencers, Hanjin is leading a paradigm shift in the e-commerce industry. The company also operates "Digital Easy Order," a digital-friendly local distribution platform that bridges the gap between producers and consumers and supports the growth of regional sellers.

President Cho stressed, "A truly supportive policy for women executives is not about building protective barriers, but about creating a level playing field," adding, "This is the shortcut to revitalizing small and medium-sized enterprises and startups and practicing people-centered entrepreneurship."

Meanwhile, after her keynote, President Cho also participated as a panelist in the "Women Executives from a Global Perspective" session, moderated by Camille Burns, Chair of the Women Presidents Organization (WPO), at George Washington University's Jack Morton Auditorium, where she engaged in in-depth discussions. The International Council for Small Business (ICSB) is the world’s oldest and most prestigious international nonprofit academic organization, founded in the United States in 1955 to promote the development of small businesses and entrepreneurship worldwide.

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