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KoreaTechDesk
@koreatechdesk.bsky.social
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🔍 Inside South Korea’s startup + tech scene 🚀 News, funding, founders, and innovation 📡 Powered by Asia’s next-gen ecosystem 🌐 koreatechdesk.com
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 3h
💡 Korea launches a $7.3 M Women Startup Fund, turning gender inclusion into innovation policy.

The 5-year plan targets ₩800 T revenue by 2029, expanding women-led startups in AI, Femtech & smart manufacturing.

Equality meets economics — and Korea’s betting on both
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$7.3M Women Startup Fund Elevates Gender Inclusion as Korea’s Innovation Strategy - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea launches a ₩10B ($7.3M) women startup fund under its 2025–2029 roadmap, advancing gender-inclusive innovation and Femtech-driven growth.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 6h
🚀 Korea launches its first corporate-backed regional mother fund!

POSCO & Gyeongbuk join forces for a ₩1T venture fund—fueling AI, green energy & advanced materials.

Corporate capital is entering regional VC, reshaping Korea’s startup map beyond Seoul.
#Startups
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Gyeongbuk Launches First Corporate-Backed Regional Mother Fund with POSCO, Targeting $1.45B Growth - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Gyeongbuk and POSCO launch Korea’s first corporate-backed regional mother fund initiative, aiming ₩2T (~$1.45B) to boost startups and regional innovation.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 1d
🚨 Korea’s startup credit system under strain.
$3.5M in KIBO-guaranteed loans misused, revealing how 1 officer manages 250 firms.

As #StartupKorea vision pushed, weak oversight could erode public trust in policy finance, unless transparency goes digital.
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KIBO $3.5M Loan Misuse Exposes Strain in Korea’s Startup Credit System: 1 Officer for 250 Firms - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s startup credit system faces scrutiny as KIBO’s ₩4.8B ($3.5M) loan misuse exposes structural strain—with one officer overseeing 250 firms nationwide.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 1d
Korean AI chips are breaking borders. 🚀⚙️

DeepX joins Baidu in China, while Rebellions partners with Malaysia’s Sarawak for AI & data-center growth.

A new era for #AIhardware is unfolding, and Korea’s at the center.
#DeepX #Rebellions #AI #Semiconductors #TechAsia
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Korean AI Chips Gain Ground in Asia: DeepX and Rebellions Lead the Next Wave of Cross-Border Semiconductor Expansion - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korean AI semiconductor startups DeepX and Rebellions succesfully showcase growing leadership in global AI chip market with China and Southeast Asia expansion.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 1d
🚀 Korean AI chips are expanding fast across Asia.

➡️ DeepX → China
➡️ Rebellions → Malaysia

Korea’s fabless startups are now turning homegrown innovation into regional leadership.

#DeepX #Rebellions #Baidu #Semiconductors #AIChips #AIstartups
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Korean AI Chips Gain Ground in Asia: DeepX and Rebellions Lead the Next Wave of Cross-Border Semiconductor Expansion - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korean AI semiconductor startups DeepX and Rebellions succesfully showcase growing leadership in global AI chip market with China and Southeast Asia expansion.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 1d
‼️Fake goods from China are flooding: 50,000 + items seized in Q2 2025.

For startups built on design & creativity, this is more than lost revenue — it’s a crisis of innovation trust.

Can Korea fix its IP protection before counterfeits define its market?
#StartupIP
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Counterfeit Crisis Exposes Weak Links in Korea’s Startup IP Protection Framework - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
China’s counterfeit surge is testing Korea’s innovation safeguards, exposing fragile IP protection for startups and threatening the nation’s creative economy.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 2d
💡#TrillionLabs just changed the #AI cost game

Their new rBridge framework predicts big-model performance using small models — cutting research costs by up to 100×

Could this make Korea the hub for efficient, sovereign AI innovation?
#LLM #KoreanStartups
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Korea’s Trillion Labs Redefines AI Cost Efficiency with rBridge Breakthrough - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Trillion Labs unveils rBridge, a breakthrough that predicts large AI model performance 100× cheaper—reshaping global AI research and startup innovation.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 2d
⚖️ Korea’s LucentBlock–NXT dispute exposing a critical flaw in innovation governance:

When public-backed platforms compete with startups they regulate, who protects the innovators?🤔

#LucentBlock #NXT #STO #KoreanStartups #Fintech #InnovationGovernance #digitalasset
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Public Power VS Private Innovation: Korea’s LucentBlock – NXT STO Dispute Exposes Gaps in Startup Protection Framework - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
The LucentBlock – NXT STO dispute tests Korea's policy integrity, highlighting risks for investors and innovators in the nation’s digital-asset ecosystem.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 2d
😱 Faulty customs classification just cost Korean SMEs nearly ₩10 billion (US $7.2 M), exposing deep cracks in trade governance.

Can Korea’s startup exporters trust #FTA systems built on outdated bureaucracy?
#TradeGovernance #KoreanStartups #SMEPolicy
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Faulty Customs Classification Undermines Korea’s SME Competitiveness and FTA Trust - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s trade governance is facing renewed scrutiny after a Seoul court ruled that the Korea Customs Service (KCS) had unlawfully taxed domestic manufacturers due to faulty wood classification. The ru...
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 3d
💸 Fund misuse in SME agencies exposed deep governance flaws:

‼️conflict-of-interest failures
‼️oversight blind spots

Can Korea’s startup policy ecosystem rebuild trust while pushing toward global innovation leadership?
#KoreanStartups #MSS #KOSME #SEMAS
koreatechdesk.com/korea-sme-go...
Korea’s SME Governance Under Scrutiny: Public Fund Misuse Exposes Policy Oversight Gaps - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s SME policy system faces scrutiny as public fund misuse reveals oversight gaps, testing trust in the nation’s startup and innovation governance.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 3d
Nearly half of Korea’s smart-factory SMEs say #AI is now essential—but funding & talent remain major hurdles.

As govt. expands its AI Transformation (AX) strategy, #startups & manufacturers are urging stronger support to bridge this gap.

#Koreanstartups
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Korea’s AI Transformation Reaches Factory Floors: SMEs Demand Funding and Talent Support - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
As Korea deepens its national AI Transformation (AX) strategy, a growing number of small and medium-sized manufacturers are calling for stronger policy support. Recent survey findings reveal that many...
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 4d
⚠️ Startup stock option grants plunged 29% in 2 years in Korea.

With IPOs slowing & tax rules outdated, startups are losing a key edge in the global talent race.

Time for smarter incentives & policy that rewards innovation, not punishes it.
#KoreanStartups
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Startup Stock Option Grants Fall Nearly 30%: Korea’s Need for Smarter Tax Incentives - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s startup stock option grants drop nearly 30%, exposing the urgent need for smarter tax incentives to sustain innovation and global competitiveness.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 4d
🚀 Korea is moving from crisis recovery to crisis prevention.

🤖 New AI-powered early warning system will monitor 3M small businesses, spotting financial risks before they hit.

😎 This is how digital governance becomes real #SMEResilience

#KoreanStartups #AI #AX #DX
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Korea Launches Data-Driven Early Warning System to Strengthen SME Resilience - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups launches predictive monitoring system, redefining SME resilience and crisis prevention through digital policy innovation.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 5d
🌳 #Korea is turning the #EU 's carbon border rules into a growth opportunity.

By aligning ministries, exporters, & tech institutes, government is preparing SMEs for 2026 #CBAM compliance, building global competitiveness through carbon-smart innovation.

koreatechdesk.com/eu-cbam-resp...
EU CBAM Response: Korea’s Policy Coordination Is Powering SME Carbon Readiness - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
South Korea has mobilized ministries and agencies to prepare Korean SMEs for EU CBAM, turning carbon regulation into a catalyst for export competitiveness.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 5d
💀 Nearly 40% of Korean startups collapse within five years — even with record government support.

Korea’s startup “Death Valley” shows why early funding isn’t enough.

#funding #Startups #Innovation #ScaleUp #KoreanStartups #scaleup #startupstories
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Inside Korea’s Startup “Death Valley”: Why Government Funding Isn’t Enough for Long-Term Survival - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s startup ecosystem faces a survival test as 40% of government-funded startups close within five years—exposing why early aid alone can’t ensure growth.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 5d
🪖 A new K-Defense Startup Strategy from South Korea — integrating AI, drones & robotics into #defense innovation.

Startups will soon stand at the core of Korea’s dual-use future ➡️ civilians & #military.
#KDefense #AI #Startups #Innovation #DeepTech
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K-Defense Startup Strategy: A Shift in Korea’s Innovation Policy Toward Dual-Use Global Competitiveness - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
As global defense innovation shifts toward agile, AI-driven technologies, Korea is charting a new path to ensure its startups play a central role. The government’s latest K-Defense startup strategy si...
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 5d
🇰🇷 Korea boosts AI Transformation budget by 84% to KRW 455.2 billion — fueling smart factories, AI startups, and SME innovation.

A new era begins for #AIManufacturing and small business growth.

#AITransformation #SmartManufacturing #Startups #Innovation
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Korea Expands AI Transformation Budget by 84% to Accelerate Smart Manufacturing and Startup Growth - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
South Korea boosts its AI transformation fund by 84%, driving smart manufacturing, vertical AI adoption, and next-generation startup growth across industries.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 6d
💼 Even with Cambodia’s travel bans, Korean SMEs keep business running.

But that's not luck — it’s strategy.

🔹 This is how Korea’s export ecosystem turns global risk into growth 👇
#KoreanSMEs #Cambodia #GlobalTrade #Resilience
koreatechdesk.com/korean-smes-...
How Korean SMEs Are Safeguarding Overseas Operations Amid Cambodia Travel Bans - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korean SMEs keep business steady in Cambodia despite travel bans, showcasing resilience, policy coordination, and strong global risk-management capacity.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 6d
🤝 Korea & #Indonesia opens real AI SME dialogue.

At Global ASTI 2025, both nations map out data-driven cooperation for SME growth & R&D exchange.

Will dialogue turn into real collaboration? 🧐

#AItransition #KISTI #ASEAN #KoreanStartups #Innovation
koreatechdesk.com/global-asti-...
Global ASTI 2025 Opens Korea – Indonesia Dialogue on AI and Cross-Border SME Growth - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
At Global ASTI 2025, Korea and Indonesia shift from policy talk to real implementation, launching an AI-powered framework for cross-border SME collaboration.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 6d
🎥 K-Content gets a KRW 50 B boost!

KIBO & KB Kookmin Bank partner to fund Korea’s creative economy — easing production costs & powering global expansion.

#KoreaTechDesk #KContent #InnovationFinance #KoreanStartups #CreativeEconomy #KIBO #KookminBank
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Korea Builds Financial Backbone for Next-Gen K-Content Through KIBO – KB Kookmin Bank Partnership - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea strengthens its creative economy as KIBO and KB Kookmin Bank launch a KRW 50 billion program to finance next-generation K-Content and global expansion.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 6d
Korea’s Global #ASTI 2025 turns R&D into a global AI collaboration platform.

ASTI-X = Connect | Intelligence | Global.

Read how Korea’s AI-powered network is reshaping global innovation 👇

#KoreaTechDesk #AItransition #KoreanStartups #KISTI #Innovation
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Global ASTI 2025: Korea’s National R&D Network Charts New Path for AI Collaboration and Export Growth - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s ASTI evolves into an AI-powered global R&D platform, driving cross-border innovation, SME growth, and new export opportunities amid shifting trade dynamics.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 6d
🚀 Korea boosts SME exports with new KRW 100 M support per company for overseas certifications (CE, UL, NMPA & more).

🗓️ Final 2025 round open till Nov 14.

#KoreaTechDesk #KoreanStartups #TradePolicy #ExportSupport #MSS #GlobalMarkets
koreatechdesk.com/korea-mss-ov...
Korea’s MSS Strengthens SME Export Resilience Amid Global Trade Shifts with Overseas Certification Support - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea boosts SME export resilience with up to ₩100M (~$73K) each in support for global certification, helping firms overcome trade barriers & diversify markets.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 7d
Korea’s top #Crypto exchanges Dunamu (Upbit) & Bithumb skipped parliamentary questioning. Again.

Regulators face audits. Platforms don’t.
The result? A gap between industry power & public accountability.

#cryptocurrency #Fintech #Blockchain #KoreanStartups
koreatechdesk.com/korea-crypto...
Korea’s Crypto Accountability Gap Widens as Dunamu, Bithumb Skip Third National Audit - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s major crypto exchanges, Dunamu and Bithumb, skip a third national audit in 2025, deepening concerns over transparency and regulatory accountability.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 7d
#Rebellions 🤝 #Lunit join forces — combining NPU power & medical precision to expand Korean AI globally.

With semiconductors and healthcare integration, #DeepTech collaboration is Korea’s next growth engine.
#VerticalAI #AItransition #KoreanStartups #Korea
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Korea Bets on Vertical AI: Rebellions and Lunit Collaborate to Expand Medical AI Ecosystem Globally - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s AI leaders Rebellions and Lunit unite to develop next-gen medical AI solutions, advancing vertical AI innovation and expanding into global markets.
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KoreaTechDesk @koreatechdesk.bsky.social · 8d
Korea’s MSS moves beyond audit fallout — betting on AI, youth founders & regional VCs to spark the Third Venture Boom.

Policy shift = from repair → reinvention.

#KoreaTechDesk #KoreanStartups #AItransition #DeepTech #InnovationGovernance #VentureCapital
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Beyond 2025 National Audit: Korea’s MSS Bets on AI, Youth Founders, and Regional Venture Funds to Drive Inclusive Innovation - KoreaTechDesk | Korean Startup and Technology News
Korea’s SME Ministry unveils post-audit reforms, channeling AI, youth entrepreneurship, and regional venture funds to power the nation’s next innovation wave.
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