Korea Startup Forum marks 10th anniversary with focus on growth

The Korea Startup Forum (KSF) held a media day in Seoul to mark its 10th anniversary, transitioning its focus from proving the value of startups to fostering a decade of scalable growth. Since its inception in 2016 with approximately 50 companies, the organization has grown into South Korea’s largest startup group, now representing over 3,000 innovative firms.

Over the past decade, KSF member companies have created roughly 56,000 jobs and secured approximately 29 trillion won in cumulative investment. The forum has played a significant role in advocating for regulatory reforms, including the abolition of joint and several liability for entrepreneurs, the implementation of the Data 3 Acts, and the introduction of multiple voting rights.

Looking forward, KSF leadership, including Representative Choi Ji-young and Chairman Kim Jae-won, outlined a vision centered on five pillars: market expansion, regulatory innovation, diffusion, growth, and legacy. Key objectives include establishing a virtuous cycle of investment and talent acquisition through systems like Restricted Stock Units (RSU) and evolving into a problem-solving policy platform that connects government, capital, and global markets.