Organizations with more than 30 percent membership by small merchants can apply for a particular industry to be designated as exclusive to those traders. The Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership will review the application and pass it on to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on approval. The 15-member deliberation committee will make the final decision based on majority voting.

Once an industry has been designated as exclusive for small merchants, big business groups cannot enter the sector. Any violation will be punished with fines of up to 5 percent of sales, ministry officials said.

The ordinance also includes exceptions to the rules, allowing conglomerates to engage in businesses set aside for small merchants if it affects international competitiveness, consumers' interests or the soundness of the industry. (Yonhap)