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KoreaTechDesk
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🔍 Inside South Korea’s startup + tech scene
🚀 News, funding, founders, and innovation
📡 Powered by Asia’s next-gen ecosystem
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AI talent isn’t scarce in Korea. Job-ready AI talent is.

Upstage + Day1 Company are tackling this head-on by linking AI education directly to hiring, infrastructure, and real-world deployment.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/upstage-day1...
#AIJobs #KoreaAI #Startups
Upstage – Day1 Company Alliance Bridges AI Education and Industry Needs - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s Upstage – Day1 Company alliance connects AI education with real industry needs, creating job-ready talent and advancing the nation’s startup ecosystem.
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January 24, 2026 at 12:25 AM
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Korea hasn’t produced a major new unicorn since 2022.

While global VC floods into AI and B2B deep tech, many Korean unicorns remain tied to domestic consumer platforms and CVC exits.

More on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-unicor...
#KoreaVC #Unicorns #DeepTech
Beyond the Billion: What Korea’s Vanishing Unicorns Reveal About Its Venture Future - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s startup engine stalls as unicorns disappear post-2022. Discover what the decline reveals about its venture future amid global AI and tech shifts.
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January 23, 2026 at 11:35 PM
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Korea flips the switch on its 2026 venture plan ⚡

₩4.4T Fund of Funds is now live — blending AI, deep tech, cultural IP, and regional growth, plus a Singapore-based global fund.

Full breakdown on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-2026-f...
#VentureCapital #KoreaStartups #AI
Korea Officially Executes ₩4.4T Fund of Funds — Merging AI Ambition, Cultural IP, and Regional Equity - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea launches ₩4.4T Fund of Funds uniting AI, cultural IP, and regional growth—marking a major shift from policy planning to full-scale execution in 2026.
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January 23, 2026 at 10:55 PM
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Elice CEO Kim Jaewon to lead the Korea Startup Forum 🇰🇷🤖

As KOSPO turns 10, Korea’s largest startup alliance shifts toward #AI-driven, policy-anchored innovation — linking startups directly to national transformation.

More on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-startu...
#startups #Innovation
AI Education Pioneer Kim Jaewon to Lead Korea Startup Forum Amid Push for Policy Reform and Industrial AI Growth - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea Startup Forum names Elice CEO Kim Jaewon as next chair, marking a policy-focused shift toward global startup competitiveness and industrial AI innovation.
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January 23, 2026 at 2:32 AM
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Korea wants to be a Top 4 global venture powerhouse 🌍

Five key startup groups + the government just launched a unified 2026 agenda — focused on capital reform, global scale-up, and execution.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-ventur...
#KoreaStartups #VC #Innovation
Korea’s Venture Leaders Set 2026 Agenda: Inside Korea’s Coordinated Drive to Become a Top 4 Venture Powerhouse - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea unites five major venture leaders under a shared 2026 agenda, driving global scale-up, investment reform, & innovation to become Top 4 venture powerhouse.
koreatechdesk.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:27 AM
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Korea launches a 6-ministry task force to fight technology theft 🛡️

A unified enforcement model with MSS, MOTIE, FTC, KIPO, Police & NIS — finally giving startups real protection for their innovations.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-six-mi...
#startups #Innovation #Korea
Korea’s Six-Ministry Alliance Targets Technology Theft: How the New Task Force Could Redefine Startup Protection - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea launches a six-ministry task force to combat startup technology theft, unifying fragmented enforcement to rebuild trust in its innovation ecosystem.
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January 22, 2026 at 10:08 PM
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Korea’s Lucentblock case is reshaping its startup sandbox 🧩

Once a model of innovation, it’s now forcing Seoul to rethink how startups are protected after success — not just during testing.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-sandbo...
#KoreaStartups #Fintech #Regulation #STO
Korea’s Sandbox Meets Its Turning Point: How the Lucentblock Case Is Forcing a Redesign of Startup Protection Policy - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s top innovation sandbox faces its biggest test as the Lucentblock dispute pushes Seoul to redesign startup protection rules and restore investor trust.
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January 22, 2026 at 6:12 AM
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Korea’s AI Basic Act is live — the world’s first full-scale AI law ⚖️

Transparency, watermarking, explainability: new rules redefine how innovation meets accountability.

A global test of trust-based AI begins.
Read on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-ai-bas...
#startups #Korea
January 22, 2026 at 2:02 AM
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Korea tightens its data laws after the Coupang breach 📉

30M+ users affected — now CEOs, not compliance teams, face direct accountability. Privacy is becoming Korea’s new measure of corporate integrity.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-data-l...
#Korea #Coupang #DataGovernance
Korea Tightens Data Laws After Coupang Breach, Signaling End of Corporate Leniency - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea moves to enforce CEO accountability, stricter data laws, and heavy fines after the Coupang massive leak, marking a turning point in digital governance.
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January 21, 2026 at 10:34 PM
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Korea’s AX engine is powering up ⚙️

Team Sparta joins NVIDIA’s Inception + Microsoft’s AI Cloud Partner programs — bridging AI education, infrastructure, and enterprise transformation.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/team-sparta-...
#AI #KoreaStartups #AX #startups #NVIDIA
How Team Sparta Is Building Korea’s AX Engine with NVIDIA and Microsoft Global Partnerships - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s AI transformation has entered a new phase as Team Sparta — a fast-growing edtech startup — joins forces with both NVIDIA and Microsoft. This dual recognition from two of the world’s most influ...
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January 21, 2026 at 1:43 AM
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Korea’s AI-powered soft power ✨

Galaxy Corporation — home to G-Dragon — wins a Presidential Commendation for its APEC role, marking a new era where tech, culture & diplomacy converge.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/galaxy-corpo...
#startups #G_DRAGON #APEC
Galaxy Corporation Signals Korea’s New Era of Cultural-Tech Diplomacy with Presidential APEC Commendation - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Galaxy Corporation earns Presidential APEC commendation, spotlighting how AI-driven Enter-Tech is reshaping Korea’s global soft power and cultural diplomacy.
koreatechdesk.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:34 AM
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Korea takes aim at startup bottleneck: talent. 🤖

A new MSS–MOEL pact links AI training with real SME demand — aligning jobs, skills, and innovation to fix Korea’s startup labor gap.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-ai-lab...
#AIWorkforce #KoreaStartups #Innovation
Korea Builds Smarter Labor Pipeline for Startups and SMEs, Linking AI Training with Talent Demand - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea strengthens its startup ecosystem as two ministries unite to build a smarter labor pipeline, linking AI-driven training with real startup talent demand.
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January 20, 2026 at 11:45 PM
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Korea launches a ₩1.6T Fund of Funds for 2026 💰

Aiming to boost AI, deep tech & regional startups — and make venture capital more transparent & globally aligned.

Full details on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-fund-o...
#KoreaStartups #VentureCapital #AIInvestment #startups
Korea Welcomes 2026 Venture Blueprint: ₩1.6T Fund of Funds Targets AI, Deep Tech, and Regional Innovation Gaps - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea expands its Fund of Funds to ₩1.6T (~$1.2B) to boost AI, deep tech, and regional startup growth, setting a new model for venture policy.
koreatechdesk.com
January 20, 2026 at 10:17 PM
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Korea’s sovereign AI goes global 🌏

The Upstage consortium brings in Allganize to scale its Solar WBL model beyond borders — turning technical sovereignty into global competitiveness.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk 🔗 koreatechdesk.com/allganize-up...
#AI #KoreaTech #SovereignAI
The Upstage AI Consortium Taps Allganize to Drive Korea’s Sovereign AI Global Expansion - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Allganize joins the Upstage-led AI consortium to globalize Korea’s sovereign AI, using its RAG and LLM expertise to adapt foundation models across industries.
koreatechdesk.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:43 PM
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Korea hits 4.9M startups — an all-time high 🚀

But 2023 growth slowed to 1.5%. The post-pandemic boom is giving way to efficiency, resilience, and focus.

Korea’s startup scene isn’t cooling — it’s maturing.

🔗 koreatechdesk.com/korea-startu...
#KStartups #VentureTrends #Entrepreneurship
January 19, 2026 at 10:03 PM
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KIBO’s Venture Camp is scaling up — turning into a national accelerator with new ESG + Global Growth tracks 🌱🌏

Korea’s startup model is shifting: not just funding, but capability-building for global scale.

Full story on KoreaTechDesk
🔗 koreatechdesk.com/kibo-venture...
#startups #Korea #ESG
KIBO’s Venture Camp Evolves into a National Accelerator Platform — Adding ESG and Global Growth Tracks - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
KIBO transforms its Venture Camp into a national accelerator platform, empowering 70 startups with ESG-focused programs and global market expansion support.
koreatechdesk.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:01 AM
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⚖️ Korea enforces the world’s first full AI law this week.

The AI Basic Act demands safety, transparency, & even labeling for AI content—while 98% of startups say they aren’t ready.

Blueprint for responsible AI or warning shot for overreach?
👉 koreatechdesk.com/korea-ai-bas...
#AI #Korea
With Korea’s New AI Basic Act, Can Innovation Coexist with Regulation? - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea enforces the world’s first AI Basic Act, testing if innovation and regulation can align: a crucial moment for startups, investors, and digital governance.
koreatechdesk.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:52 AM
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Korea’s next cyber crisis won’t come from tech. ⚠️

Top funeral firms handle millions of customer records — yet none have national ISMS certification.
A blind spot hiding inside one of Korea’s most trusted industries.

Full story 👉 koreatechdesk.com/korea-funera...
#Cybersecurity #DigitalTrust
Korea’s Next Cyber Crisis Won’t Come From Tech — It’s Already Hiding in the Funeral Industry - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s forgotten funeral sector holds millions of personal records without protection—revealing hidden cybersecurity gap threatening the nation’s digital trust
koreatechdesk.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:07 PM
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After the Kyowon ransomware breach, Korea’s mid-tier corporates got the message:

🧩Security is governance.

Firms like Coway and Daekyo are upgrading systems, appointing CISOs, & treating data protection as board-level strategy — not just IT hygiene.
koreatechdesk.com/after-kyowon...
#Cybersecurity
After the Kyowon Breach, Korea’s Mid-Tier Corporates Face a New Reality: Security Is the Next Governance Test - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s mid-tier companies tighten cybersecurity after the Kyowon breach, revealing that digital protection is no longer optional—it’s core to governance.
koreatechdesk.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:33 AM
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Korea’s next growth play isn’t speed — it’s endurance. ⚙️

KDB just launched a ₩7.45T National Growth Fund for AI, semiconductors, and #DeepTech — with 20-year capital horizons.

Long-term innovation, not short-term stimulus.
Full story 👉 koreatechdesk.com/kdb-national...
#AI #KStartup
Korea Development Bank Launches ₩7.5 Trillion “National Growth Fund” to Back Deep Tech and AI Ventures - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
KDB unveils a ₩7.5T National Growth Fund to fuel Korea’s deep tech, semiconductor, and AI ventures—advancing long-term capital for next-generation innovation.
koreatechdesk.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:17 PM
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K-beauty’s comeback in China is here — but the rules have changed.

C-beauty dominates, live commerce sets the tone, &sentiment isn’t strategy anymore.
Survival now depends on startup agility, not legacy brands.

👉 koreatechdesk.com/k-beauty-chi...
#KBeauty #ChinaMarket #Innovation
After the “Korean Ban”: K-Beauty’s Second Chance in China Depends on Startup Agility, Not Sentiment - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s K-Beauty revival hinges on innovation, not nostalgia. As China reopens, only agile startups with new strategies can seize this shifting market.
koreatechdesk.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:46 PM
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Korea’s crypto industry faces its biggest reform yet. ⚖️

Regulators plan a 15–20% cap on exchange ownership — a move that could reshape Upbit, Bithumb, and others.

Industry warns: “Too much control risks killing innovation.”
👉 koreatechdesk.com/korea-crypto...
#Crypto #Blockchain
Market Boom and Governance Reform: Korea’s Crypto Industry Faces Its Maturity Test - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s crypto market enters a turning point as new ownership and oversight reforms test how the nation balances trust, regulation, and innovation growth.
koreatechdesk.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:09 AM
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OpenAI is turning to Korea’s VCs to find its next AI collaborators. 🤝

New workshop with Korea Investment Partners connects OpenAI with top startups like FuriosaAI and Twelve Labs — a venture-backed bridge to Korea’s AI ecosystem.

👉 koreatechdesk.com/openai-korea...
#startups #OpenAI
Why OpenAI Is Turning to Korea’s Venture Network to Find Its Next AI Collaborators - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
OpenAI deepens its Korea strategy through VC alliances, teaming with top investors to discover and scale the next generation of high-impact AI startups.
koreatechdesk.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:49 PM
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Korea’s AI race just flipped. 🚀

Startup-led Upstage beat major players like Naver in the national AI contest — proving agility now outperforms scale.

A new era for #SovereignAI begins.
Full story 👉 koreatechdesk.com/korea-sovere...
#startups #Korea #DeepTech
Korea’s Startup Alliance Beats Big Tech in National AI Contest — Upstage Leads Sovereign AI Momentum - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korean startups outperform tech giants in the nation’s sovereign AI race, as Upstage leads a new era of innovation built on speed, originality, and trust.
koreatechdesk.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:24 PM
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Korea is cracking down policy fund abuse. ⚖️

A new “Three-Part Package” targets illegal brokers with cash rewards for whistleblowers, legal immunity for SMEs, and a consultant registry for all policy fund advisors.

koreatechdesk.com/korea-policy...
#KStartup #PolicyFinance #Compliance
Korea Cracks Down Policy Fund Brokers with New “Three-Part Package” Legal Framework - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea cracks down on illegal policy fund brokers with a new “Three-Part Package,” reshaping transparency, compliance, and investor trust in SME finance.
koreatechdesk.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:19 AM