During BEYOND Expo 2026, the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) introduced South Korea’s startup ecosystem and government-backed support programs to international entrepreneurs and investors, highlighting how the country attracts global startups through innovation, industrial resources, and policy support.
A KISED representative stated during the presentation that, unlike traditional companies focused on selling products, KISED aims to promote South Korea’s comprehensive startup ecosystem to entrepreneurs worldwide. According to the representative, South Korea is not only a promising market but also an important gateway for international startups seeking to enter Asia.
The representative highlighted South Korea’s competitive strengths in innovation, noting that the country possesses world-class digital infrastructure, advanced electronic payment systems, and steadily increasing R&D investment.
These advantages have helped South Korea maintain a leading position in global innovation and research competitiveness rankings, making it one of the world’s most attractive destinations for startups and innovation.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s startup ecosystem has matured after more than two decades of development. Following the Asian financial crisis, the country began transforming its economic structure, moving away from heavy reliance on large conglomerates and fostering a more diversified innovation-driven economy. Today, technology startups have become an increasingly important driver of economic growth.
South Korea is home to globally recognized corporations such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor, according to KISED. The government actively encourages open innovation between large enterprises and startups, creating additional business opportunities and industry resources for emerging companies.
As an affiliated organization under South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups, KISED serves as a national platform for startup support. The representative noted that the organization manages an annual budget of approximately $1 billion to foster entrepreneurial growth.
To date, KISED has supported more than 8,000 startups across areas including entrepreneurship education, incubation, commercialization, investment matchmaking, and global expansion.
Regarding international startup collaboration, KISED introduced several programs designed specifically for overseas entrepreneurs.
Among them, the flagship K-Startup Grand Challenge attracts more than 2,000 applications from overseas startups each year, with only around 80 companies selected. Participating teams receive a three-month acceleration program, commercialization support, and opportunities to pitch to investors. Applications for the 2026 program remain open to startup teams worldwide.
KISED also operates the Global Startup Center, which provides overseas entrepreneurs with office space, business incorporation support, startup training, networking opportunities, and resource connections. The center is designed to help international teams integrate into the Korean market more efficiently.
For high-potential international startups, KISED offers commercialization support programs that provide up to $50,000 in funding and support companies in establishing operations and expanding within the Korean market.
To attract global entrepreneurial talent, the Korean government has introduced the Startup Korea Special Visa in recent years. According to the KISED representative, the visa focuses on evaluating a startup’s innovation and suitability for the Korean market. The streamlined process allows qualified applicants to receive approval in as little as one month, without needing to travel to Korea beforehand.
In closing, KISED invited entrepreneurs attending the event to consider South Korea as a strategic base for entering the Asian market. The organization stated that it continues to strengthen its startup support framework and international collaboration network, with the goal of building a more open and globally competitive innovation ecosystem.
