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 flashing prototypes—it was the quiet deals, the measured interest, and the unspoken realization that Korea’s startup ecosystem has changed shape even more. After years of B2C-centric showings, this time the spotlight belonged to companies solving enterprise problems, not chasing consumer attention. Korean Deep-Tech and B2B Startups Redefine Their Global Image at CES 2026 At CES 2026, held from January 6 to 9 in Las Vegas, Korea’s K-Startup Pavilion gathered 81 startups, the largest single-brand presence in Eureka Park. Supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and organized by the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), it showcased startups spanning AI, robotics, energy, and quantum applications—industries traditionally underrepresented in Korea’s startup expos. Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok of the MSS personally toured the booths of eight CES Innovation Award-winning startups, emphasizing that participation should be “a starting point, not a goal.” He noted that Korean startups were shifting away from consumer apps toward technologies that anchor future industries:…