The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Han Sung-sook, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups) announced that it held the TOPS AWARDS on the 16th at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, presided over by Second Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gwon.
This event was organized to expand online sales channels and reward small business owners and implementing organizations that have achieved outstanding results through the new online brand small business development project launched this year, and to promote business achievements.
The Online Brand Small Business Development Project involves ten top-tier platforms in each sector directly identifying promising small business owners and providing step-by-step online sales support through platform-specific, autonomous programs. A total of 3,022 companies were identified and supported through 2025. Through a one-on-one public-private partnership, the platforms provided additional support, leveraging their own infrastructure alongside government funding.
The event was divided into two parts: Part 1, a small business pitching competition, and Part 2, an awards ceremony and performance sharing session, with the aim of spreading best practices in how platforms have helped small business owners grow their brands through public-private cooperation.
In Part 1, a pitching competition was held for the 10 TOP-STAR companies selected through online voting among this year's 30 TOPS companies that had advanced to the third stage of the business through fierce competition. The participating small business owners presented their product competitiveness and marketability, and the final rankings were determined after a Q&A session with the judges. First place went to Hojae FS, operator of the jokbal and bossam brand Appa Restaurant, which boosted brand awareness and sales through a Gmarket-specific program.
The second part of the performance sharing session presented business performance for 2025, along with platform-specific program implementations by platforms like Kakao and Grip, and shared examples of successful small business growth. Kakao highlighted its Talk Deal promotion, shopping live support, and customized consulting efforts, while Grip presented examples of small business growth through live and short-form branding.
At the awards ceremony, a total of 15 awards were presented, including the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award, Minister's Award, and Korea SMEs and Startups Distribution Agency CEO Award, to small business owners who won the pitching competition and implementing organizations that contributed to strengthening online brands.
Second Vice Minister Lee Byung-kwon evaluated the TOPS project as a win-win model created by the government, the platform, and small business owners, and announced that he would continue to pursue support policies that small business owners can feel by utilizing the platform's expertise and infrastructure in the future.
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