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Korea Is Expanding Its Startup Programme to 10,000 Entrepreneurs

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What if starting a business wasn't limited to people who already had years of experience, a large network, or significant capital?

Korea's government is trying to make entrepreneurship accessible to a much larger group of people through the second round of 모두의 창업, an initiative designed to support people taking their first steps towards starting a business.

After selecting 5,000 people in its first round, the programme is set to double its reach, with 10,000 innovative entrepreneurs expected to be selected in the second round.

And the expansion isn't only about numbers.


More People, More Paths Into Entrepreneurship

The first round provided selected participants with startup activity funding and mentoring. For the second round, the government plans to expand the types of entrepreneurship tracks available, including university, youth, social, and global entrepreneurship.

This matters because not every founder arrives at entrepreneurship from the same place.

A university student with an early-stage idea may need a very different kind of support from an experienced entrepreneur building a second business. Someone working on a social enterprise may also face different challenges from a technology founder preparing to enter international markets.

By creating different tracks, the programme is designed to give people more relevant pathways into entrepreneurship rather than treating every potential founder the same.


A Second Chance for Entrepreneurs

Another notable change is the expansion of support for people starting again.

Previously, the programme's re-start eligibility was limited to businesses that had closed within the previous three years. For the second round, this period will be expanded to seven years.

That change recognises something important about entrepreneurship: failure doesn't necessarily mean the end of a founder's journey.

For some entrepreneurs, previous experience, including the lessons gained from an unsuccessful business, can become an advantage when starting again.

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What About International Founders?

For foreign entrepreneurs, the newly expanded global entrepreneurship track is particularly worth watching.

However, it is important not to assume that the presence of a global track automatically means that every international founder can participate. The actual eligibility requirements and application guidelines will determine who can apply.

For founders interested in Korea, the programme is nevertheless an interesting development because it shows that the government is actively thinking about how to bring a wider range of entrepreneurs into the country's startup ecosystem.


Applications Are Coming

The second-round recruitment is expected to begin after mid-August 2026, with the selection process expected to be completed within the year.

For anyone considering entrepreneurship in Korea, this is a programme worth keeping on the radar as the detailed application information becomes available.


More importantly, the expansion of 모두의 창업 reflects a wider shift in how Korea is approaching entrepreneurship: creating more opportunities for people to try, learn, start again, and build.

For aspiring founders, sometimes the biggest barrier isn't the lack of an idea.

It's finding the opportunity and support to take that first step.


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