Korean Startups Step Into the Next Stage at CES 2026
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea (Minister Sung-sook Han) and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED, President Jong-pil Yoo) will operate the “K-Startup Pavilion” at the Consumer Electronics Show(CES) 2026, held in Las Vegas from January 6 to January 9.
“K-Startup” represents Korea’s innovative ventures, startups, and its ecosystem. Similar to France’s “La French Tech” and Singapore’s “Startup SG,” it aims to foster innovative companies and expand the global network. What distinguishes K-Startup is its government-led, end-to-end support system that spans startup discovery, incubation, investment, and global market expansion. Through major international platforms such as Startup Mahakumbh in India, Viva Technology in France, SWITCH in Singapore, and BIBAN in Saudi Arabia, K-Startup has consistently showcased Korea’s technological innovation on the global stage.
Since 2021, KISED has participated in CES on an ongoing basis, operating the K-Startup Pavilion to support Korean startups’ entry into the U.S. market and to expand global networking opportunities. As a government-led collective brand pavilion, the K-Startup Pavilion provides comprehensive on-site support, including exhibition and marketing assistance, investor meetings, and business matching, enabling Korean startups to pursue tangible partnerships and investment opportunities in global markets.
These coordinated government efforts have translated into strong results at CES 2026 Innovation Awards. Of the 285 companies recognized with Innovation Awards this year, 173 are Korean companies, including 14 recipients of Best of Innovation Awards. In total, 114 Korean venture and startup companies were honored with Innovation Awards as of December 20, 2025. This achievements underscore Korea’s growing presence, setting the stage for the K-Startup Pavilion as a focal point of Korean innovation at CES 2026.
Building on these achievements, visitors to CES 2026 will be able to experience the technological capabilities of Korean startups firsthand at the K-Startup Pavilion. This year, a total of 19 startup support organizations, led by KISED, will jointly operate the pavilion, featuring 81 startups with outstanding technological competitiveness. Among them are three Best of Innovation Award winners and 11 Innovation Award–winning startups showcased within the K-Startup Pavilion.
The K-Startup Pavilion will be located at booths 62817, 63416, and 63600 in Eureka Park. A variety of programs will be offered, including “K-Startup Night,” which facilitates direct networking between startups and global buyers; daily startup IR pitching sessions; and seminars with local venture capital firms. In addition, dedicated booths will introduce Korea’s inbound support programs, including special visa initiatives for foreign startups, as well as promote COMEUP, Korea’s annual global startup festival, further encouraging international startups to explore expansion opportunities in Korea.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups recently unveiled its “Comprehensive Strategy to Become One of the World’s Top Four Venture Powerhouses,” highlighting key national priorities such as fostering AI and deep-tech startups, expanding large-scale venture investment, and strengthening global competitiveness. Against this backdrop, Seoul ranked 8th in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome and 20th in the StartupBlink global rankings, underscoring the growing international standing of Korea’s startup ecosystem.
Media Contact
Company Name: KISED
Contact Person: Global Partnerhship Department
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Country: South Korea
Website: https://www.kised.or.kr/_eng/
