1967 Top startups in South Korea for April 2025

We rank Kakao Pay, OP.GG and SK Hynix in South Korea along with 1964 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. South Korea startup ecosystem ranks #20 globally and #2 in East Asia.

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Top Unicorn Startups in South Korea for 2025

Thirteen startups have achieved unicorn status by exceeding USD 1 billion in valuation. Collectively, the top three unicorns in South Korea have raised more than USD 13B.
SB Score:777

Discover a captivating online fashion platform offering a one-stop destination for all your style needs. Immerse yourself in the world of fashion with curated collections, trend reports, and shopping guides. Explore, shop, and stay on top of the latest trends effortlessly.

Industry:
Ecommerce & Retail
Subindustry:
Ecommerce

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2nd

Toss
SB Score:773

Toss is a South Korea-based mobile financial service platform operated by fintech startup Viva Republica. Its application offers peer-to-peer money transfers, manages credit scores and bank accounts, access loan and insurance plans, split bill options, QR payment and other similar services that enable users to manage their finance. Toss was established in 2011 by Seunggun Lee in Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Apps

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SB Score:717

Kurly is a convenient online platform for ordering food and managing logistics. Users can easily browse and order meals from a variety of restaurants, all while enjoying efficient delivery services.

Industry:
Foodtech
Subindustry:
Online Food Ordering

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Total amount:13

Best Startups in South Korea for 2025

SB Score:745

Kakao Pay, a fintech arm of Kakao, offers a range of financial services including over-counter payments, peer-to-peer transactions, bill payment, and web banking. It plans to expand its offerings to include loans and financing, making it a one-stop solution for users' financial needs.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

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SB Score:725

OP.GG offers in-depth analytics and tools for gamers to track and improve their performance in online games. From detailed stats to personalized recommendations, OP.GG helps players level up their skills and dominate the competition.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Software

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SB Score:668

SK Hynix is a top producer of semiconductors like DRAM, NAND flash, and System IC with CMOS Image Sensors. They lead the global market in semiconductor manufacturing.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

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SB Score:653

Buzzvil, a Seoul-based startup founded in 2012, revolutionizes advertising by connecting brands with consumers through smartphone lockscreens. With over 2 million users in South Korea and the #1 lockscreen platform in Japan, Buzzvil's Honeyscreen and Lockjoy apps offer a natural and effective advertising experience.

Industry:
Marketing & Sales
Subindustry:
Adtech

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SB Score:644

KREAM is a resale marketplace for authenticated limited-edition sneakers and streetwear. Utilizing a bid-ask model with dynamic pricing, it ensures secure trading through a rigorous verification process, allowing buyers and sellers to confidently exchange coveted releases.

Industry:
Ecommerce & Retail
Subindustry:
Ecommerce & Retail-Other

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SB Score:636

Kakao Mobility offers innovative online taxi-hailing and parking solutions through its brands, including Kakao Taxi, Kakao Driver, and Kakao Navi. With a focus on enhancing transportation convenience, Kakao Mobility connects users seamlessly to reliable services tailored for modern urban living.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
SaaS

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SB Score:590

Coinone offers a range of blockchain and cryptocurrency services, such as an exchange center and international remittance. Their platform allows users to easily trade cryptocurrencies and send money abroad.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Fintech-Other

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SB Score:585

Tappytoon is a leading digital comics platform with over 3 million global readers. Offering English, French, and German content, Tappytoon is the go-to destination for daily comic updates, providing an engaging and diverse reading experience for fans worldwide.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Entertainment

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SB Score:577

NHN Cloud offers a robust cloud-based platform that delivers integrated services aimed at enhancing business performance. By streamlining operations and providing valuable insights, it empowers organizations to optimize their processes and drive growth effectively.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Enterprise Technology

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SB Score:575

Class101 is your go-to online platform for exploring and mastering hobbies. Join a community of like-minded individuals to learn new skills through engaging and interactive classes. Unleash your creativity and passion with expert guidance in a wide range of hobbies. Let's make learning fun and fulfilling together!

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Enterprise Technology

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Total amount:1967

Top 695 Software & Data Startups in South Korea for 2025

The top three Software & Data startups in South Korea have raised more than USD 1.54B. South Korea startup ecosystem ranks #22 globally for the Software & Data industry.
SB Score:725

OP.GG offers in-depth analytics and tools for gamers to track and improve their performance in online games. From detailed stats to personalized recommendations, OP.GG helps players level up their skills and dominate the competition.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Software

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SB Score:636

Kakao Mobility offers innovative online taxi-hailing and parking solutions through its brands, including Kakao Taxi, Kakao Driver, and Kakao Navi. With a focus on enhancing transportation convenience, Kakao Mobility connects users seamlessly to reliable services tailored for modern urban living.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
SaaS

City Rank (Seongnam-si)

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SB Score:577

NHN Cloud offers a robust cloud-based platform that delivers integrated services aimed at enhancing business performance. By streamlining operations and providing valuable insights, it empowers organizations to optimize their processes and drive growth effectively.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Enterprise Technology

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Total amount:695

Top 168 Hardware & IoT Startups in South Korea for 2025

The top three Hardware & IoT startups in South Korea have raised more than USD 907M. South Korea startup ecosystem ranks #15 globally for the Hardware & IoT industry.
SB Score:668

SK Hynix is a top producer of semiconductors like DRAM, NAND flash, and System IC with CMOS Image Sensors. They lead the global market in semiconductor manufacturing.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

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SB Score:486

Toss Lab's platform collaborates and offers communication tools with practical capabilities like group messaging, task and project management, file searching, and archiving services, allowing users to communicate and handle projects. The company's platform JANDI, is a group-oriented messaging platform with an integrated suite of collaboration tools that is tailor-made for workplaces. It also offers messaging and group chats. Toss Lab was founded on June 16, 2014 by Daehyun Kim and Daniel Chan and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea with offices in Taiwan, Dubai, Malaysia, and Japan.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Consumer Electronics

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SB Score:463

The company specializes in vision inspection solutions designed to enable AI-driven smart factories, enhancing operational efficiency and product quality. By leveraging advanced AI technology, it empowers manufacturers to streamline processes and achieve greater accuracy in production, ultimately transforming traditional manufacturing into intelligent, automated systems.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Hardware & IoT-Other

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Total amount:168

Top 188 Social & Leisure Startups in South Korea for 2025

The top three Social & Leisure startups in South Korea have raised more than USD 1.17B. South Korea startup ecosystem ranks #13 globally for the Social & Leisure industry.
SB Score:585

Tappytoon is a leading digital comics platform with over 3 million global readers. Offering English, French, and German content, Tappytoon is the go-to destination for daily comic updates, providing an engaging and diverse reading experience for fans worldwide.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Entertainment

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SB Score:574

This innovative OTT platform leverages AI technology to deliver personalized content recommendations, enhancing the viewing experience for movies, dramas, and more. By offering tailored subscription options, it empowers users to discover and enjoy entertainment that aligns perfectly with their preferences.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Arts

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SB Score:569

Lezhin Entertainment provides Lezhin Comics, a webtoon service for adult readers. Enjoy online manga with mature content on this Korean startup's platform.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Entertainment

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Total amount:188

Most Funded Startups in South Korea for 2025

The top three most funded startups in South Korea have raised total funding of more than USD 3.25B. 42dot has 0.04% more funding than Delio.
SB Score:522

42dot is revolutionizing mobility with UMOS, leading the way in seamless and self-driving transportation services.

Industry:
Transportation
Subindustry:
Automotive

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SB Score:366

Empower users with a comprehensive suite of crypto financial services. Streamline transactions, manage assets, and access innovative investment opportunities with ease.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Cryptocurrency

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SB Score:507

Naver Financial Corp. is a dynamic financial platform that offers a range of valuable products and services. Leveraging extensive market insights and service experience, it aims to enhance the financial journey for both users and operators, delivering innovative solutions that meet diverse financial needs.

Industry:
Fintech
Subindustry:
Financial Services

City Rank (Seongnam-si)

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Total amount:1967

Top Hiring Startups in South Korea by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in South Korea have an median employee size that is between [10001+]
SB Score:668

SK Hynix is a top producer of semiconductors like DRAM, NAND flash, and System IC with CMOS Image Sensors. They lead the global market in semiconductor manufacturing.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

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SB Score:466

Pantech is a Korean company that manufactures mobile phones. The company markets its smartphones under the brand name “VEGA”. Its portfolio of VEGA products includes VEGA LTE: a motion recognition smartphone, VEGA No. 6: a smartphone with a full HD screen, VEGA Iron: a smartphone with metal rim design, and VEGA Secret Note and VEGA Secret UP: smartphones featuring fingerprint recognition technology. Pantech also markets its products overseas through its relationships with partners in the strategic markets of the United States and Japan. Pantech Wireless is an Atlanta-based subsidiary of Pantech & Curitel and Pantech Co., Ltd. that researches, markets, and develops wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America as a part of the Pantech Group. Pantech was ranked first for 10 consecutive times in the Supplier Performance Review carried out by AT&T, the largest telecommunications carrier in the United States. Pantech was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Arts

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SB Score:358

NCSOFT creates immersive online, video, and mobile games for players to enjoy together in massive virtual worlds. With a focus on multiplayer experiences, they develop engaging games that bring people together to explore, compete, and cooperate in exciting digital adventures.

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Gaming

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SB Score:175

Crucialtec provides optical modulation technology in business areas of optical communication sub-component and optical application units. The company offers Optical Joystick modem, mobile Internet devices, and WFM remote controls. It offers Optical Joystick technology that is used to support the graphic user interface in mobile devices, UMPC, PMP/various multimedia devices, digital cameras, PDA/MP3P/remote controllers, keyboards, notebook PC, and gamepads, which enable to navigate menus and contents using fingertips. It has strategic relationships with Intel, AMD, Yahoo, Google, T Mobile, AT&T, Symbian, and Microsoft. Crucialtec was founded in 2001 and is based in Chungnam, South Korea.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Hardware

City Rank (Pohang-si)

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Total amount:1967

Explore the Startup Ecosystem of South Korea

Population

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51.6 Million

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Regional Rank

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2nd

1

Global Rank

(WorldWide)

20th

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Top Cities for Startups in South Korea - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
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2024 National Rank CityGlobal Rank
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Total Score

Access subscores for 1000 cities and 100 countries

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Quantity Score
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Business Score
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78
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0.091
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