Ministry of SMEs Selects 300 '2026 Baeknyeon Small Businesses' with 2.5

747 Businesses Applied with a 2.5-to-1 Competition Rate 62.7% of Selected Businesses Located Outside the Seoul Metropolitan Area

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on July 26, 2026, that it has newly designated 300 businesses as Baeknyeon Small Businesses for 2026, in order to promote outstanding small business success models that have operated for an extended period and contributed to community development.

Centennial Small Business BI. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

“Baeknyeon Stores” are designated for small business owners who have operated restaurants or retail businesses for over 30 years and have built a reputation for reliability. Meanwhile, “Baeknyeon Small Manufacturers” are designated for small manufacturers who have run manufacturing businesses for over 15 years, passing down skilled techniques and craftsmanship.

Since 2018, the Ministry has selected Baeknyeon Small Businesses that represent their local regions. This year, 150 Baeknyeon Stores and 150 Baeknyeon Small Manufacturers were designated. With this new round of designations, there are now a total of 2,598 Baeknyeon Small Businesses nationwide (1,545 Baeknyeon Stores and 1,053 Baeknyeon Small Manufacturers).

This application round saw 747 businesses apply nationwide, resulting in a competition rate of approximately 2.5 to 1. Small businesses outside the Seoul metropolitan area made up 62.7% (188 companies) of all designated companies, raising expectations that the program will help vitalize regional economies and contribute to balanced regional development.

Those designated as Baeknyeon Small Businesses receive a certification plaque and a storyboard detailing the company’s history and management philosophy. Additional benefits include preferential access to policy finance for small businesses and extra points when applying for small manufacturer support programs.

Among the newly designated Baeknyeon Small Businesses, “An Gang Restaurant” in Nam-gu, Busan, opened as a meat restaurant in 1991 and has offered its signature dish of grilled pork belly on a cauldron lid since 1994. The business is also known for its ongoing donations and commitment to the local community.

“Jeonju Bokjip” in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, has been the region’s representative pufferfish restaurant for 38 years, maintaining both tradition and expertise as the business has been passed down through three generations, with the family also acquiring specialized pufferfish cuisine certificates.

“Haeinbang” in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, has specialized in metal craft manufacturing for 26 years, inheriting miniature goldsmithing techniques that reinterpret and apply metalworking skills from the Three Kingdoms Period in a modern way. “Dongju Salt Field” in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, established in 1953, has maintained traditional solar salt production methods. The current owner has been running the business since 1980, keeping its unique approach and upholding traditional practices. “Mishillan Agricultural Corporation” in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do, has worked for over 20 years to develop healthy food products, consistently researching rice varieties to improve manufacturing facility safety and reliability while expanding distribution channels through its own online mall and export growth.

Lee Byung-kwon, Second Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups, stated, “Baeknyeon Small Businesses are not just long-standing companies, but leading success models that have driven local economies over many years by accumulating experience, skills, and trust.” He added, “We will continue to strengthen market expansion, promotional support, and policy coordination to ensure the sustainable growth of Baeknyeon Small Businesses.”

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