South Korea has taken a decisive step toward strengthening its data-driven innovation ecosystem. Ten public agencies across four ministries have launched a consultative body to expand access to high-value public data. This initiative reflects Korea’s policy emphasis to AI readiness, startup acceleration, and transparent policymaking in an increasingly data-centric economy.

Ten Public Agencies Launch Data Working Consultative Body

On September 8, ten institutions under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced the formation of a Data Working Consultative Body.

The participating organizations are:

• MSS-affiliated (7): Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), Korea Credit Guarantee Fund, Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD), Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs, Korea Small Business Institute (KOSBI), Korea Venture Investment Corp., and Korea SMEs & Startups Distribution Center.
• MOTIE-affiliated (1): Korea Trade Insurance Corp.
• MOLIT-affiliated (1): KORAIL.
• MOF-affiliated (1): Korea Marine Environment Management Corp.

Public Data as a Strategic Resource

The consultative body reflects Korea’s recognition that AI-friendly and high-value data are critical for innovation. As decision-making becomes increasingly data-driven, the country is seeking to improve transparency, efficiency, and accessibility across government services.

As of August 2025, the participating agencies had already released 853 datasets via the national Public Data Portal — including 813 file datasets and 40 open APIs. These datasets span SME certifications, credit information, transport operations, and marine environment data, offering a foundation for startups, researchers, and investors to develop new AI-driven services and business models.

For example, KORAIL has opened 297 transport datasets, while Korea Trade Insurance Corp. has made 148 credit and industry trend datasets available.

The initiative also involves cooperation with the National Information Society Agency (NIA), enabling more robust data sharing and analysis to enhance startup support policies and improve public trust.

Creating Data-Driven Startup and Innovation Ecosystem

The ten institutions emphasized the collective mission in a joint statement:

“Through this working consultative body, we have laid the foundation for creating a data-driven startup and innovation ecosystem. We will continue sustained and organic cooperation to support the growth of SMEs and contribute to the advancement of Korea’s data economy.”

Positioning South Korea as Asia’s Data-Powered Startup Hub

For Korea’s startup ecosystem, the launch of this consultative body marks more than just another policy initiative — it lays the groundwork for the kind of infrastructure that AI innovation and SME digital transformation demand.

By opening datasets that cut across finance, transportation, environmental monitoring, and SME policy, the government is signaling a shift toward greater transparency and sector-wide interoperability.

At the same time, the initiative also indicates potential relevance for international investors: Korea is positioning itself as a data-powered hub for startups in Asia.

The strategy mirrors global movements in regions like the EU and the US, where access to open, high-quality datasets has become inseparable from venture activity and research opportunities. In this sense, Korea is not only catching up with global data standards but also aligning itself with the expectations of a market where reliable data is now a prerequisite for innovation and cross-border growth.

Aligning Public Data with Startup Ecosystem Development

The launch of Korea’s Data Working Consultative Body illustrates a critical policy shift: public data is no longer seen as administrative output but as a strategic resource for innovation and investment.

This means greater opportunities to build AI-powered services for startups as well as providing clearer signals for global investor of Korea’s ecosystem maturity and commitment to data-driven growth.

As Korea deepens cooperation across ministries and strengthens ties with NIA, this initiative could become a model for how governments align public data strategies with startup ecosystem development. This also sets the stage for new waves of cross-border collaboration and investment.

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