“Innovation Begins with People” — Global Forum on Humane Entrepreneurship Held at Korea’s National Assembly
Over 10 Members of Korea’s National Assembly, including Rep. Choi Soo-jin and Rep. Kim Ki-hyun, participated in a landmark international forum on Humane Entrepreneurship held on March 31st at the National Assembly in Seoul. The event marked a significant first step in the journey to propose Humane Entrepreneurship as a global ISO standard.
The forum was spearheaded by the Chair of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), who served as the main organizer. ICSB President Dr. Ayman ElTarabishy delivered the opening remarks virtually from Washington, D.C., emphasizing the global importance of placing people at the heart of innovation and entrepreneurship.
In his address, Dr. Tarabishy highlighted that the world is experiencing another transformative wave—similar in impact to COVID-19—driven by the rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence and the resulting shift in job types. Yet, he affirmed, “regardless of the pace or scale of change, the human must always remain at the center.”
The forum’s core message echoed this sentiment: true innovation begins with people. It stems from voluntary commitment, which starts with respect, empathy, and dignity in the workplace. Humane Entrepreneurship is a forward-thinking management philosophy that puts people first, fostering creativity, engagement, and sustainable growth.
Co-hosted by ICSB and the Humane Entrepreneurship Research Institute (HERI), the forum brought together leading experts from Korea, the U.S., China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Argentina. Discussions centered on developing national guidelines to empower workers, decentralize decision-making, and create a human-centered, fair workplace culture.
“Technology may shape the future, but 85% of innovation comes from people—not machines,” emphasized Rep. Choi Soo-jin.
