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Korea's 2026 Startup Support Plan: A Closer Look at the New Growth Strategy

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What does Korea want its next generation of successful companies to look like?

The answer is becoming clearer.

In its 2026 second-half policy plan, the Korean government announced a stronger focus on innovative companies, scale-ups, and businesses with global potential.

Rather than spreading support evenly across a large number of programmes, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to concentrate resources on companies and industries identified as having strong growth potential.


More Support, Over a Longer Period

One of the most notable changes is the introduction of a multi-year support model for innovative companies.

Selected businesses in five priority growth areas could receive KRW 40 billion or more over up to five years, with support linked to milestones proposed by the companies themselves.

The idea is to support businesses through their growth journey rather than treating funding as a one-time intervention.


Korea Is Also Building a Scale-Up Pipeline

The government plans to develop 3,000 high-potential companies through a three-year package of support.

Depending on their growth stage, companies can participate in programmes including Jump-Up, Jump-Up 500, and the newly introduced Jump-Up 1000.

Support is expected to include expert directing, open vouchers of up to KRW 750 million, networking opportunities, and links to financing and guarantees.


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Why Should Foreign Founders Pay Attention?

For international entrepreneurs looking at Korea, government policy can provide useful insight into where opportunities are developing.

It doesn't mean that every foreign company will qualify for these programmes. Eligibility, application requirements, and participation conditions will vary.


But the direction is clear.

Korea is investing more strategically in companies with the potential to innovate, scale, and compete internationally.

For founders considering Korea, understanding this environment early can help you make better decisions about when to enter, where to build, and which opportunities may be relevant to your business.



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