KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News

Sat, January 17, 2026

Market Boom and Governance Reform: Korea’s Crypto Industry Faces Its Maturity Test

South Korea’s digital asset sector stands at its most consequential crossroads since the 2017 ICO ban. While trading volumes have surged and global exchanges diversify, Korea’s regulators are tightening ownership and governance standards. The debate over a proposed cap on major shareholders in crypto exchanges has ignited one of the…
by Daehyun Song . 17 Jan 2026

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Why OpenAI Is Turning to Korea’s Venture Network to Find Its Next AI Collaborators

OpenAI is entering a new phase in its Korea strategy. After formal partnerships with government agencies and participation in global…

by Dae-jung Park . 17 Jan 2026
Korea’s Startup Alliance Beats Big Tech in National AI Contest — Upstage Leads Sovereign AI Momentum

South Korea’s AI sovereignty strategy has recently reached a critical turning point. A startup-led consortium has surpassed the country’s largest…

by Chloe kim . 17 Jan 2026
Korea Cracks Down Policy Fund Brokers with New “Three-Part Package” Legal Framework

The Korean government has drawn a line against long-tolerated intermediaries in its policy finance system. Illegal “policy fund brokers” —…

by Richard Park . 16 Jan 2026
Pinkfong Takes Baby Shark to Dubai, Turning Turns IP into Full-Funnel Business in Middle East

The Korean content industry has entered a new phase where brand longevity is measured not by view counts but by…

by Daehyun Song . 16 Jan 2026
Fair Trade vs. Startup Trust: Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae Case Exposes Korea’s Tightrope on Innovation Governance

South Korea’s effort to strengthen fair trade oversight has put two of its largest accommodation platforms, Yanolja (야놀자) and Yeogi…

by Dae-jung Park . 16 Jan 2026
Korea’s Ministries Clash Over DoctorNow Bill, Pulling in Opposite Directions

South Korea’s ambition to lead the next global startup wave is once again meeting its own structural limits. The latest…

by Zee Cindy . 15 Jan 2026

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MOST READ ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

[mostReadArticle]
Why OpenAI Is Turning to Korea’s Venture Network to Find Its Next AI Collaborators

OpenAI is entering a new phase in its Korea strategy. After formal partnerships with government agencies and participation in global…

by Dae-jung Park . 17 Jan 2026

Korea’s Startup Alliance Beats Big Tech in National AI Contest — Upstage Leads Sovereign AI Momentum

South Korea’s AI sovereignty strategy has recently reached a critical turning point. A startup-led consortium has surpassed the country’s largest…

by Chloe kim . 17 Jan 2026
Upstage Controversy Ends with Apology from Sionic AI CEO — A Defining Moment for AI Integrity in South Korea

The plagiarism allegations that once put South Korea’s sovereign AI ambitions under scrutiny have now closed with a public apology.…

by Richard Park . 4 Jan 2026
AI Independence on Trial: How the Upstage Defense Tests Korea’s Sovereign Model Strategy

In Korea’s fast-rising AI sector, independence has become both a badge of pride and a battlefield of proof. The controversy…

by Dae-jung Park . 3 Jan 2026
Fair Trade vs. Startup Trust: Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae Case Exposes Korea’s Tightrope on Innovation Governance

South Korea’s effort to strengthen fair trade oversight has put two of its largest accommodation platforms, Yanolja (야놀자) and Yeogi Eottae (여기어때컴퍼니), under new scrutiny. The case underscores a delicate phase for Seoul’s innovation governance — how to ensure platform accountability without undermining investor confidence in one of Asia’s most ambitious startup ecosystems. Ministry Requests Prosecution Over Fair Trade Violations The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) announced on January 14, 2026, that it had requested the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to refer Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae (Good Choice Company) to prosecutors for violating the Fair Trade Act. The ministry also sought prosecution of INFAC (인팩) and its affiliate INFAC EPM (인팩이피엠) for violations of the Subcontracting Act. The decision came after deliberation by the 32nd Mandatory Prosecution Request Committee, a system allowing the MSS to intervene in cases the FTC has not referred to prosecutors when small businesses suffer material harm or when issues carry significant social impact. Both companies were previously fined by the FTC but now face additional criminal investigation under this Mandatory Prosecution Request System. Because…

16 Jan 2026
Korea’s Ministries Clash Over DoctorNow Bill, Pulling in Opposite Directions

South Korea’s ambition to lead the next global startup wave is once again meeting its own structural limits. The latest…

15 Jan 2026
Failure Is No Longer Fatal: Korea Builds a Re-Challenge Ecosystem for Its Next Startup Wave

Korea is re-engineering the way its venture ecosystem deals with failure. The government’s 2026 Economic Growth Strategy positions entrepreneurship not…

11 Jan 2026
Technology Theft Is Korea’s Innovation Tax—Now the Bill Just Went Up

For decades, Korea’s startup economy has thrived on the tension between imitation and invention. That tension has just become costlier.…

10 Jan 2026
Korea’s Startup Investors Gather at Startup Investor Summit 2026 in Busan to Redefine Capital Beyond Money

Korea’s startup ecosystem is entering a new chapter where capital is no longer defined by money alone. As investment patterns shift from policy dependency to private initiative, the 2026 Startup Investor Summit, opening in Busan on January 29–30, brings together leading accelerators, early investors, and policymakers to explore what sustainable innovation funding really requires—trust, experience, and shared learning. Startup Investor Summit 2026 to Be Held in Busan The Korea Association of Initial Investment Accelerators (KAIA) announced that it will host the 2026 Startup Investor Summit in Busan, from January 29 to 30, under the theme “Beyond Capital, Shaking Paradigms.” The two-day event will focus on how Korea’s startup funding landscape can evolve into a mature, private-led investment ecosystem rooted in connection, solidarity, and continuous learning. It coincides with the tenth anniversary of Korea’s accelerator (AC) system—a milestone moment for reviewing what has changed and what still must. Participants will include investors, accelerators, founders, policy institutions, and regional innovation hubs, all gathering to discuss how early-stage capital can transition from transactional funding toward ecosystem-building. A Turning Point for Accelerators and Early…

14 Jan 2026
CES 2026: Korea’s Innovation Stage Is Global, Its Homework Still Local

For years, Korea’s startups have arrived at CES 2026 to prove they belong on the global stage. This year, they…

14 Jan 2026
Korea’s Deep-Tech Shift Is Further Unfolding — And CES 2026 Was the Proof

Las Vegas was noisy, as CES always is. But what stood out in the K-Startup Pavilion this year wasn’t the…

10 Jan 2026
Hyundai’s ZER01NE Turns CES 2026 into a Testbed for Korea’s Deep-Tech Future

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Hyundai Motor Group’s ZER01NE (제로원) is redefining what corporate open innovation means in a…

9 Jan 2026
[Exclusive Interview] ArbaLabs Founder Ashley Reeves on Korea’s Deep Tech, Trust, & Real-World AI

In an era when “AI innovation” is often reduced to marketing noise, Estonia-based ArbaLabs stands out for what it refuses…

by Zee Cindy . 9 Jan 2026
IDOLL Robotics: Korea’s Emotional AI Frontier & the Rise of the “Forever Companion” at K-Startup Grand Challenge 2025

In a country leading the world in robotics and AI adoption, IDOLL Robotics stands at the edge of a new…

by Zee Cindy . 4 Jan 2026
Vyuhaa Med Data at K-Startup Grand Challenge 2025: Redefining Diagnostic Equity through AI-Driven Microscopy

The promise of AI in healthcare often feels distant—powerful in theory, but uneven in reach. Vyuhaa Med Data, an India-based…

by Zee Cindy . 4 Jan 2026
FuturePlay Secures ‘TIPS Operator of the Year’ as Korea Tightens Links Between Investment, R&D, and Global Scale-Up

As Korea recalibrates its startup policy toward deeper integration between capital, technology development, and overseas expansion, the role of intermediary…

by Zee Cindy . 22 Dec 2025

Korea’s D.CAMP Partners with Stanford to Build a Launchpad for Global Consumer Innovation

In the global startup landscape, the next frontier of competition lies not only in technology but in understanding consumers across…

by Richard Park . 21 Dec 2025
New Venture Coaching Certification KVMCC Sets Global Benchmark in Korea’s Founder Support

South Korea has quietly introduced one of its most forward-looking ecosystem reforms — a professional certification for venture mentors. The…

by Zee Cindy . 21 Dec 2025
Beyond the Winner: What K-Startup Grand Challenge 2025 Startups Reveal About Korea’s Inbound Strategy

Korea’s inbound startup strategy is becoming clearer. The K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC) 2025 Demo Day, held on December 11 at…

by Zee Cindy . 20 Dec 2025
Unlocking Innovation: How Startups Can Leverage IMDA’s Open Innovation Platform

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, innovation is key to staying ahead. Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has taken a…

4 Apr 2025
Factagora Launches South Korea’s First Cloud-Based AI Legal Service at Law Firm Shin & Kim

In a first of its kind instance in South Korea’s legal industry, prominent law firm Shin & Kim has implemented…

25 Dec 2024
Top Co-working Spaces for Startups & Companies to Explore in South Korea

For startups, the beginning years are the most crucial ones, when the pitches to VCs are to be made, teams…

3 Apr 2024