기업 성장사다리 구축을 위한 「중견기업법」 개선 방안 연구

Abstract

The Special Act on the Promotion of Growth and the Strengthening of Competitiveness of Middle-Standing Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the "Middle-Standing Enterprises Act") was initially enacted as a 10-year limited- term law in 2014. However, the 2023 amendment removed the law's expiration date, allowing for continuous policy support to facilitate the sustained growth of middle-standing enterprises. Despite this, the Middle-Standing Enterprises Act underwent several amendments within its first decade of enactment due to numerous compromises made to ensure the bill's passage at the time of its inception, as well as the lack of specific support policies for middle-standing enterprises. The inclusion of "Special Act" in the title has also led to ambiguities regarding its legal status, while the relationship between "Promotion of Growth" and "Strengthening of Competitiveness" in the support measures for middle-standing enterprises remains unclear. To address these issues within the Middle-Standing Enterprises Act and propose effective support policies aimed at fostering a corporate growth ladder, it is imperative to systematize the categorization of middle-standing enterprises into "Growth Promotion Middle-Standing Enterprises" and "Innovation Capacity Middle-Standing Enterprises," in addition to the current category of "All Middle-Standing Enterprises." Moreover, it is necessary to elevate the status of the "Middle-Standing Enterprises Policy Committee" and establish a legal foundation for the creation of a "Middle-Standing Enterprises Research Institute." While enacting a Framework Act on Middle-Standing Enterprises may be desirable from a mid- to long-term perspective, there remains an immediate need to comprehensively revise the existing Middle-Standing Enterprises Act. This revision should include the removal of "Special Act" from its title to resolve issues such as the systemic inconsistencies that have arisen due to the frequent amendments to the law.