InvestorEmpowering South Korea's startup ecosystem through strategic investments.
South Korea startup and venture ecosystem
Where startups are forming across South Korea: the cities, accelerators and investors, and how you get close to them.
The ecosystem
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) reported KRW 13.6 trillion in South Korean venture investment in 2025, up 14% from 2024, across 8,542 deals. WIPO ranked the Republic of Korea fourth among 139 economies in its 2025 Global Innovation Index, with fourth place for innovation inputs and sixth for outputs.
WIPO reports gross R&D expenditure at 4.96% of GDP in 2023 and ranks Korea first for business-performed R&D intensity and patents by origin. These indicators describe research and patent capacity, not guaranteed startup outcomes.
Sectors and strengths
In 2025, ICT services received 20.8% of venture investment, bio and healthcare 17.4%, and electrical, machinery, and equipment 14.6%, according to MSS. These reported allocations show investment across digital services, life sciences, and industrial technology.
As of . Official information. Source: Second-Highest Venture Investment on Record in 2025 as 27 Unicorns Signal Acceleration of ‘Third Venture Wave’
Hubs and regional differences
WIPO's 2025 innovation-cluster profile ranks Seoul fifth, Daejeon 25th, and Busan 95th. StartupBlink separately ranks Seoul eighth among Asia-Pacific startup cities in 2026 and attributes 84.5% of South Korea's ranked-city activity to Seoul; the share is specific to StartupBlink's city-activity measure.
As of . Official information. Source: Republic of Korea ranking in the Global Innovation Index 2025; Best Startup Ecosystems in Asia Pacific
Capital providers
MSS reports that private investors supplied 80% of Korean venture-fund commitments in 2025, while new venture-fund formation reached KRW 14.3 trillion. These measures concern fund commitments and formation, distinct from the KRW 13.6 trillion deployed into companies that year.
As of . Official information. Source: Second-Highest Venture Investment on Record in 2025 as 27 Unicorns Signal Acceleration of ‘Third Venture Wave’
For founders
Founders can use Korea's R&D and patent indicators as context when assessing technical commercialization, and compare their sector with the investment categories MSS reported for 2025. The 45.6% share for companies within seven years is market-level context, not a predictor of an individual raise.
As of . Official information. Source: Republic of Korea ranking in the Global Innovation Index 2025; Second-Highest Venture Investment on Record in 2025 as 27 Unicorns Signal Acceleration of ‘Third Venture Wave’
For investors
MSS's 2025 figures distinguish investment deployed into companies from new fund formation and private commitments. Investors comparing national capital activity can also note StartupBlink's reported concentration of ranked-city activity in Seoul, while keeping that index-specific measure distinct from total investment.
As of . Official information. Source: Best Startup Ecosystems in Asia Pacific; Second-Highest Venture Investment on Record in 2025 as 27 Unicorns Signal Acceleration of ‘Third Venture Wave’
Constraints and recent changes
WIPO's 2025 indicators rank Korea 138th for youth demographic dividend, 108th for FDI net inflows as a share of GDP, and 58th for business-policy stability. These specific measures sit alongside high R&D and patent rankings and are not a complete account of startup conditions.
As of . Official information. Source: Republic of Korea ranking in the Global Innovation Index 2025
MSS reports that companies no more than seven years old received 45.6% of 2025 venture investment, meaning older companies received the larger share. This describes the age distribution of investment, not the prospects of any individual company.
As of . Official information. Source: Second-Highest Venture Investment on Record in 2025 as 27 Unicorns Signal Acceleration of ‘Third Venture Wave’
Startup ecosystem standing
Where South Korea ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Listed as | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bloomberg Innovation Index | 2021 | South Korea | #1 | Up 1 | B | Innovation, Research |
 Global Innovation Index | 2025 | South Korea | #4 | Up 2 | A | Innovation, Competitiveness, Research, Talent |
 Doing Business (Ease of Doing Business ranking) | Doing Business 2020 | Korea, Rep. | #5 | No change | B | Business Climate |
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (countries) | 2025 | South Korea | #20 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking | 2026 | Korea Rep. | #21 | Down 1 | B | Competitiveness, Business Climate, Performance |
| Business Ready (B-READY) | B-READY 2025 | Republic of Korea | Listed | No prior edition | C | Business Climate |
277 organizations with a profile
Who's based in South Korea
Investors 203
Investor
InvestorInvesting in AI, sustainability, and innovative technologies.
InvestorGlobal investment firm specializing in diverse asset classes.
The 3 most prominent of 203. Browse all investors
Accelerators 54
AcceleratorMYSC is a South Korean social innovation consultancy and accelerator that addresses social issues through business-driven solutions. Founded in 2011,…
AcceleratorAccelerating startups in software and technology.
AcceleratorInfobank is a sustainable intelligent community that connects people, technology, and markets, empowering businesses and startups through AI-powered…
The 3 most prominent of 54. Browse all accelerators
Incubators 12
IncubatorEmpowering international entrepreneurs in Korea.
IncubatorSupporting startups and foreign entrepreneurs in Korea.
IncubatorEmpowering entrepreneurs for a better world.
The 3 most prominent of 12. Browse all incubators
Venture studios 8
Venture studioEmpowering ambitious founders in emerging technologies.
Venture studioInnovating the future of health.
Venture studioBuilding and developing startups in underserved industries.
The 3 most prominent of 8. Browse all venture studios
Based here, most-ranked first
Universities in South Korea
UniversityListed in 3 rankings
UniversityListed in 3 rankings
UniversityListed in 2 rankings
UniversityListed in 1 ranking
UniversityListed in 1 ranking
UniversityListed in 1 ranking
UniversityListed in 1 ranking
UniversityPick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in South Korea
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
Get investor introsFinding startups in South Korea
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
Get startups that fitScouting in South Korea
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyUniversity
- Yonsei UniversityUniversity
- How scouting works
City guides
Cities in South Korea
The largest 4 of 9 published city guides.
Questions about South Korea
How does South Korea rank as a startup ecosystem?
Its best position is #1 in Bloomberg Innovation Index (2021). It appears in 6 published rankings; the table above lists each one.
How many startup investors are based in South Korea?
203 investors based in South Korea have a profile here, including Korea Venture Investment Corporation, SK Networks and Mirae Asset Global Investments. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in South Korea?
Yes. South Korea has 54 accelerators, 12 incubators and 8 venture studios on record, including MYSC, Global Startup Center (GSC) and The Founders, Inc..
Which universities are in South Korea?
8 universities have a profile: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yonsei University and Korea University and more.
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