Ministry of SMEs and Startups

Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister: Park Young-sun) held the ASEAN-ROK Startup Summit (organized by Korea SMEs and Startups Agency) in Busan, taking an opportunity of holding ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit 2019.

All leaders of 11 countries including President Moon and Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Prime minister of Thailand, participated in the startup summit.

Around 400 people who attended the summit includes representatives of prospective startups including unicorn companies such as Gojek, Bukalapak, global investors, accelerators, government and institution officials concerned.

First, attendees viewed a mixed reality performance on the theme of ASEAN-ROK coexistence and prosperity through invigoration of the startup ecosystem. The performance portrayed the ASEAN-ROK unity and startup ecosystem with 11 represented stars and unicorns romping around, a mix of spectacular visuals, hologram, and dancers’ real performance.

Next, President Moon gave a special speech on the importance of startup incubation and ASEAN-ROK cooperation in the startup sector. Following the Moon’s speech, Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Prime minister of Thailand, rose to the stage and replied with a special speech on the importance of ASEAN-ROK cooperation for the globalization of startups.

Lastly, the ceremony named ‘BE STARS’ started with all 11 leaders in attendance. They rose to the stage with representatives of prospective startups who were recommended by ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (ACCMSME), the key cooperation organization of ASEAN-ROK Startup Partnership promoted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

When 11 leaders inserted the star-shaped objets which had been handed out by the representatives of the startups into the podium, the podium with objets gave out lights of 11 colors and then the 11 lights converged into one. After that, a spectacular show began on the theme of ‘ASEAN-ROK Startup Partnership.’ The ‘BE STARS’ ceremony was designed by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to render the cooperation of the ASEAN-ROK leaders based on which startups can grow into stars.

President Moon received the objet from Choi Jae-ho, the CEO of Drama & Company, on behalf of Korean startups. Drama & Company launched ‘Remember’ service, a business card application, in 2014. In July this year, it launched ‘Remember Career’ service which suggests jobs for potential job seekers.

Through this event, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to strengthen a cooperation basis with startups in ASEAN countries and constantly promote the construction of ‘ASEAN-ROK Startup Partnership.’

Meanwhile, ‘ASEAN-ROK Startup Summit,’ an event accompanying the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit, was a main ceremony of ‘ASEAN-ROK Startup Expo, ComeUp (hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, organized by the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency)’ held in Bexco, Busan in Nov. 25th to 26th.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups designated the last week of November 2019 as ‘K-StartUp Week’ to create a field of exchange and holds international startup events in both Seoul and Busan.

Following ‘ASEAN-ROK StartUp Expo, ComeUp,’ ‘ComeUp 2019’ is to be held in DDP, taking over the fever of ‘K-StartUp Week.’

Details on the events are posted on the websites below:
Busan ASEAN-ROK Startup Expo, ComeUp: www.startupexpo2019.com,
Seoul ComeUp 2019: www.kcomeup.com

Ministry of SMEs and Startups