South Korea eases SME liquidity rules, launches Middle East logistics voucher amid crisis
South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups says it will ease emergency liquidity rules and push forward a Middle East–focused set of support measures to shield small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small merchants from fallout tied to the regional crisis. The plan includes a new Middle East specialized logistics voucher and accelerated access to liquidity, with details to be announced next week.
On the 13th, Minister Han Seong-sook chaired a briefing at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, where officials gathered data on the impact of the Middle East situation on exporters and importers and outlined adjustments to the support system. The minister said the government is accepting damage reports around the clock and that the new logistics voucher system is being prepared to reflect frontline needs.
Industry observers warn that a protracted Middle East crisis could intensify supply-chain risks for SMEs, including disruptions to raw-material procurement and higher costs from oil and freight rates. They also expect liquidity strains caused by contract delays and late payments to worsen, potentially spilling over into regional manufacturing sectors.
To address logistics bottlenecks, the ministry plans to launch the Middle East specialized emergency logistics voucher next week. The government will disclose the anticipated budget and scale in the upcoming announcement. In addition, the eligibility criteria for the Emergency Management Stabilization Fund will be relaxed to broaden access to urgent liquidity for affected SMEs and small merchants.
A separate concern highlighted at the briefing is the risk to naphtha, a key feedstock for plastics and other petrochemicals. The ministry noted that about 54% of Korea’s imports travel through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has positioned a blockade, raising the prospect of supply disruptions. Domestic plastic makers currently hold stock, but a prolonged Middle East crisis could affect naphtha imports and product output, with possible ripple effects on industries such as agricultural film production. Officials pledged cross-minister collaboration to mitigate broader damage.
No Yong-seok, the ministry’s first vice minister, attended a separate mid-East impact and support-system review meeting to assess readiness among major SME support agencies and to ensure rapid deployment if needed. He stressed the need for an all-out, fast-acting response to rising uncertainty and to keep policy execution thorough and ready.
Why this matters for the United States: Korea is a major global exporter of plastics, chemicals and manufactured goods, with SMEs forming a large share of its economy. Disruptions to naphtha supply or energy costs can affect production timelines, pricing, and the availability of plastic-based components used in U.S. industries from packaging to electronics to agriculture. The measures signal how Korea is trying to insulate its economy from geopolitical shocks, a dynamic that can influence international supply chains, global commodity markets, and policy options for other trading partners, including the United States.