韩中坚企业数量突破6400家，成为经济增长核心引擎

Core Insights - The number of medium-sized enterprises in South Korea reached 6,474 by 2024, an increase of 606 companies (10.3%) from the previous year [1] - Medium-sized enterprises contributed approximately 13% of national employment, 15% of sales, and 18% of exports, despite only accounting for 1.5% of the total number of companies in South Korea [1] Group 1: Company Growth - 103 companies successfully upgraded from medium-sized to large enterprises in the past year [1] - 328 small and medium-sized enterprises transitioned into the medium-sized category [1] Group 2: Financial Performance - Total sales of medium-sized enterprises reached 1,030.5 trillion Korean won, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 4.7% [1] - The total number of employees in medium-sized enterprises increased to 1.757 million [1] Group 3: Investment Trends - Total investment by medium-sized enterprises amounted to 36.4 trillion Korean won, a year-on-year increase of 17.1% [1] - Research and Development (R&D) investment surged by 35.2%, indicating a strong focus on technological innovation [1] Group 4: Industry Focus - Significant growth was observed in non-manufacturing sectors, while manufacturing sectors such as electrical equipment and food also showed notable performance [1] - Medium-sized enterprises are actively investing in new sectors such as environmental protection, advanced biotechnology, and renewable energy, with the proportion of companies adopting ESG practices rising to 39.3% [1] Group 5: Economic Impact - Since 2022, medium-sized enterprises have maintained growth in employment, sales, and assets, serving as a vital link between large and small enterprises and a core element in sustaining the vitality of the South Korean economy [1]