Eight North Gyeongsang SMEs selected for Ministry of SMEs and Startups' Global Hidden Champion 1000+ Project

Eight small and medium-sized enterprises in North Gyeongsang Province have been selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "2026 Global Hidden Champion 1000+ Project," the provincial government announced Thursday.

The selected companies fall under the "hidden champion" and "hidden champion+" tiers, which require annual exports of at least $5 million in the previous year.

The eight firms are SD Nexphere Co., Yangwoo Co., Unico Fine Chemical Co., Jungwon Project Co., Sindok Co., YC Chem Co., Daeyang Co. and Desco Co.

The companies applied through a recruitment process launched in December last year, jointly organized by the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, the provincial government and North Gyeongsang Technopark. They were selected after rigorous on-site and presentation evaluations.

The selected firms will retain their Global Hidden Champion status through next year and will automatically qualify for the ministry's export voucher program this year, giving them access to overseas marketing services across 14 categories — including overseas sales support, international certification, design development, and public relations and advertising.

They will also receive preferential treatment in export support programs, favorable terms on export financing, guarantees, interest rates and foreign exchange transactions, and priority consideration in research and development programs.

"This selection again demonstrates the outstanding technological capabilities and growth potential of export-ready small and medium-sized enterprises in the province," said Lee Jae-hoon, director general of the North Gyeongsang Province Economy and Trade Bureau. "We will continue to strengthen tailored support suited to each company's stage of growth, in close cooperation with North Gyeongsang Technopark and other related agencies."