Korea’s latest move in startup diplomacy signals a widening bridge between Seoul and Southeast Asia. The Korea Startup Forum’s new partnership with the National Innovation Center of Vietnam marks a turning point: Korea is not only exporting technology and capital but also connecting startup ecosystems to align with ASEAN’s rapidly evolving innovation map.

Korea Startup Forum and Vietnam NIC Formalize Cooperation for 2026

The Korea Startup Forum (KOSPO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s National Innovation Center (NIC) in Hanoi to promote cooperation in startup growth, policy exchange, and cross-border ecosystem development.

The signing took place on February 5, attended by KOSPO Chairman Han Sang-woo, Executive Director Choi Ji-young, and NIC Deputy Director General Vo Xuan Hoai.

The agreement expands on the initial collaboration initiated in Seoul in August 2025. Both sides agreed to enhance mutual efforts across areas such as startup knowledge exchange, early-stage company support, event participation, and policy dialogue.

Through this MOU, KOSPO will leverage its international network to support Korean startups entering the Vietnamese market and facilitate connections with local investors and institutions.

Meanwhile, NIC, under Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment, will offer regulatory guidance, infrastructure access, and collaboration opportunities with domestic enterprises.

Vietnam’s Rise in Korea’s Startup Roadmap

Vietnam has increasingly become a critical partner in Korea’s strategy to diversify its startup expansion routes beyond traditional U.S. and Japanese corridors. The NIC, established as a national hub for innovation and advanced industries, anchors Vietnam’s ambitions to position itself as a Southeast Asian technology gateway.

KOSPO’s involvement aligns with Korea’s broader policy shift toward ASEAN partnership-driven growth, emphasizing market integration and entrepreneurial diplomacy. It reflects the government’s trend of supporting startups through overseas collaboration, infrastructure-sharing, and ecosystem exchange rather than direct subsidy programs.

For Vietnam, partnering with Korea’s largest private startup network offers access to a matured ecosystem with established investors, accelerators, and policy frameworks that can inform its own scaling efforts.

Shared Commitment to Innovation Between Korea and Vietnam

NIC Deputy Director General Vo Xuan Hoai emphasized,

“This MOU carries significant meaning as it establishes a strategic partnership between the startup ecosystems of Vietnam and Korea. We hope to see it lead to joint business development and expanded market entry for both sides.”

KOSPO Chairman Han Sang-woo stated,

“This partnership will create a solid foundation for mutual information exchange on startup policies, regulatory systems, and support mechanisms. It’s a step toward helping Korean startups grow across ASEAN markets, including Vietnam.”

Both leaders framed the agreement not as a symbolic gesture but as a working alliance that will produce collaborative programs, shared infrastructure use, and pilot projects supporting proof-of-concept testing and investment mobilization.

Korea’s Broader ASEAN Integration Strategy

The MOU between KOSPO and NIC is part of a growing pattern: Korean startup institutions are also aggressively moving their regional focus toward ASEAN, a bloc that collectively represents over 680 million consumers and fast-emerging digital markets.

This move signals a nuanced pivot in Korea’s startup diplomacy. For years, Korea’s global expansion narrative centered on Silicon Valley partnerships or Western accelerators. Now, with Vietnam’s robust economic growth and pro-innovation policies, the ASEAN corridor offers fertile ground for Korean startups in sectors such as fintech, digital manufacturing, and green technology.

KOSPO’s engagement with NIC reflects a long-term ecosystem strategy — using institutional alliances to reduce entry friction, mitigate regulatory uncertainty, and embed Korean startups into ASEAN’s domestic innovation infrastructure.

This collaboration also demonstrates how Korea’s startup ecosystem is maturing beyond direct funding models. It now acts as an exporter of ecosystem design, policy frameworks, and collaboration models that align with global and regional innovation governance.

Toward a Regional Innovation Corridor

The Korea–Vietnam partnership represents an evolving model of “ecosystem diplomacy.” By linking KOSPO’s private networks with NIC’s national innovation infrastructure, both nations position themselves as co-architects of an ASEAN-wide startup bridge.

The outcome could redefine how Korean startups approach emerging markets: through strategic partnerships, regulatory intelligence, and long-term co-development rather than short-term market entry plays.

Key Takeaway on Korea’s KOSPO and Vietnam’s NIC MOU 2026

• Event: Korea Startup Forum (KOSPO) signed MOU with Vietnam’s National Innovation Center (NIC) in Hanoi on Feb 5, 2026.
• Purpose: Strengthen cooperation in startup ecosystem development, policy exchange, and cross-border collaboration.
• Key Stakeholders: Han Sang-woo (KOSPO Chairman), Choi Ji-young (Executive Director), Vo Xuan Hoai (NIC Deputy Director General).
• Significance: Marks Korea’s growing alignment with ASEAN’s innovation economies, signaling a shift in its startup globalization strategy.
• Outlook: Expected to expand startup exchanges, joint research, and investment linkages between Korean and Vietnamese startups.
• Strategic Implication: Reinforces Korea’s role as an ecosystem exporter in Asia’s cross-border innovation corridor.

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