Korea is Seoul-centered, but regional ecosystems matter for manufacturing, hardware, batteries, mobility, bio, defense, energy, shipbuilding, agriculture, and public-sector testbeds.

Regional Logic

• Seoul: HQ, SaaS, consumer, finance, media, investors, government access.
• Pangyo / Gyeonggi: AI, ICT, gaming, platform, mobility, deep tech.
• Daejeon: R&D, universities, research institutes, defense, science startups.
• Incheon / Songdo: biotech, logistics, global campus, airport access.
• Busan / Ulsan / Gyeongnam: logistics, maritime, shipbuilding, mobility, manufacturing.
• Daegu / Gyeongbuk: robotics, manufacturing, medical, battery/materials.
• Gwangju / Jeonbuk / Jeonnam: energy, mobility, agriculture, materials.
• Jeju: tourism, mobility, energy, smart island testbeds.

Practical Approach

Choose a region by customer/testbed fit, not by grant availability alone.

References

• Creative Economy Innovation Centers official network.
• Drive source: 2025 startup support integrated announcement.
• Drive source: Daejeon foreign entrepreneurship demand research.
• KITA/NextRise internal materials.