ISSUE BRIEFING

Sole Proprietor Loan Overdue Dues Reach 14.6 Trillion Won… Era of 1 Million Closings, Alley Businesses Surviving on Debt

According to the 'Q1 2026 Small Business Trend Report' by Korea Credit Data, loan delinquencies for sole proprietors surged by 12.6% in a single quarter to 14.6 trillion won, with debt concentrating in high-interest non-banking sectors where insolvency risks are piling up faster. Based on National Tax Service statistics, business closures reached 1,008,282 in 2024, surpassing 1 million for the first time since data collection began, with the closure rate remaining above 9.0% for two consecutive years and the three-year survival rate for the top 100 lifestyle industries dropping to 52.3%, solidifying a deep-seated crisis. A Korea Economic Industries Association survey revealed that 34.0% of self-employed individuals reported monthly income falling short of the 2026 monthly minimum wage equivalent (2,156,880 won), while an analysis by the Korea Enterprises Federation showed that 4 in 10 small business owners earned less than 2 million won in operating profit, statistically confirming the reality of 'earning less than part-time workers.' The industry's long-standing demand for differential minimum wage application by sector was voted down once again at the Minimum Wage Commission on June 18, 2026, and labor and management remain far apart with discussions pointing toward a freeze around 12,000 won per hour for the 2027 minimum wage. Research institutes like the Hyundai Research Institute suggested combining management consulting and digital transformation support with re-employment and strengthened social safety nets, presenting targeted policies ranging from the establishment of a dedicated vice-minister for small businesses to sequential prevention, soft-landing, and revival strategies as key tasks.