Busan Metropolitan City is publicly recruiting companies for the "2026 Distinguished Local Enterprise" certification program in partnership with the Busan Economic Promotion Agency. Distinguished Local Enterprises are regional flagship companies that have contributed to local economic development through job creation, talent cultivation, and social contribution over an extended period of business activity. The city has revamped its local enterprise certification system, introduced in 2006, and renamed it "Distinguished Local Enterprise." A total of 68 companies have been selected and managed under the program to date.
Eligible applicants must be companies headquartered in Busan with at least 20 years of business history, 100 or more full-time employees, and average annual revenue of 20 billion won or more over the past three years. This year, the city lowered the business history requirement from the previous 30 years while strengthening selection criteria to evaluate companies' contribution to the local economy and social responsibility, ensuring selected companies are worthy of the "distinguished" title.
The city provides certified companies with comprehensive support including financing, market access, and tax benefits. In addition to preferential treatment for SME working capital limits and interest subsidies, certified companies receive priority for overseas market development missions and trade fair participation, along with a three-year deferral of tax audits. The city also plans to expand employee welfare benefits including access to public parking facilities, Gwangandaegyo Bridge usage, and cultural venue admissions.
The city will accept applications until the 28th and plans to make final selections in June following document review and committee deliberation. "By lowering the threshold while strengthening support, we expect this to serve as an opportunity for more excellent companies to grow into globally competitive 'distinguished enterprises,'" a city official said.