KOSPI tumbles below 9,000 as Wall Street tech selloff hits Seoul rally SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) — South Korean stocks succumbed to foreign-led profit-taking Tuesday, pushing the benchmark KOSPI back below the 9,000 mark and sending the won toward 1,540 per dollar, as a broad correction in artificial intelligence stocks spread across Wall Street and Asia. As of 9:56 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI fell 1.73 percent to 8,957.02, while the junior KOSDAQ sank 3.40 percent to 935.47. The correction followed a record-setting streak in Seoul that had propelled the KOSPI to s June 23, 2026

Ministry of SMEs Apologizes for Data Breach in Startup Program The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has officially apologized for a data breach involving participants in its "Startup for All" program. In a statement released on June 19 by spokesperson Kim Ji-hyun, the ministry expressed, "We deeply apologize for causing concern to the public and participants due to the personal information leak from the Startup for All platform." The ministry acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating, "We are taking this matter very seriously and are implementin June 19, 2026

OpenAI's Marc Manara Highlights AI's Impact at NextRise 2026 Attendees crowded the aisles and walls, eager to hear from Marc Manara, Head of Startups at OpenAI. This turnout illustrates how AI has become a pivotal factor in the growth of startups and the competitiveness of industries. The "NextRise 2026" event, co-hosted by the Korea Development Bank and the Korea International Trade Association, kicked off on June 18 at COEX in Seoul. This year's event is the largest ever, transforming from a startup exhibition into a platform for showcasing national st June 18, 2026

MyRealTrip Accelerates AI Integration for Enhanced Operations Those who face problems should solve them directly. MyRealTrip, a travel startup, emphasizes this principle as it undergoes a company-wide transition to artificial intelligence (AI). The company is moving away from a model where only specific development teams or experts utilize AI, aiming instead to empower all employees to define and solve problems using AI, creating an 'AI-native' organization. Since 2024, MyRealTrip has implemented an internal AI consulting group called 'AI Lab' and an in June 18, 2026

'Everyone's Startup' Project Launches, Minister Han Seong-sook Calls It a New Era In line with the Lee Jae-myung administration's vision for a "National Startup Era," the "Everyone's Startup Project" has officially begun its entrepreneurial journey. A startup support program for the first cohort of 5,000 participants is now in full swing. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to select an additional 10,000 aspiring entrepreneurs by the end of the year, providing them with funding and expert consulting. The Ministry held the launch ceremony for the first cohort of the "Ever June 16, 2026

Samsung Electronics Launches 9th C-Lab Outside Startup Recruitment Samsung Electronics announced on June 15 that it is publicly recruiting startups for the 9th round of its C-Lab Outside program, aimed at discovering companies with growth potential and unique capabilities. C-Lab Outside is a prominent open innovation program that supports domestic startups in expanding their connections with Samsung Electronics and exploring new business collaboration opportunities. Samsung will assist selected startups with business meetings and technology validation (Proof o June 15, 2026

HOT STOCK: SpaceX suppliers Korea in focus after historic debut SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The historic Nasdaq debut of SpaceX has turned investor attention to the Korean companies inside its supply chain, with KOSDAQ-trading HVM and Sphere among the names positioned to benefit as the world's most valuable private space company enters the public market. HVM, which has supplied specialty metals to SpaceX directly since 2023, manufactures the high-strength alloys and titanium used in rockets and spacecraft, one of the few Korean firms with a confirmed, fligh June 12, 2026

Seoul picks 15 firms in AI unicorn drive SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) -South Korea has selected 15 promising artificial intelligence and digital firms for a state-backed program aimed at turning them into globally competitive "unicorns," the science ministry said. The Ministry of Science and ICT presented Wednesday certificates to the chosen companies at a ceremony at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, marking the seventh year of its ICT unicorn fostering program. Run with the National IT Industry Promotion Agency and partners including the June 10, 2026

Song Byeong-jun Calls for Balanced Growth in Venture Finance Song Byeong-jun, chairman of the Venture Business Association, stated on June 10 that "policy finance must support diverse venture companies to achieve 'growth for all.'" Speaking at a press conference held at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, Song praised the government's comprehensive plan for becoming one of the world's top four venture nations, saying it would "revitalize the venture ecosystem." The plan includes allowing pension and public funds to invest in ventures and extending June 10, 2026

ITCEN Global Launches Open Innovation Program to Discover Global AI and Web3 Startups ITCEN Global is set to engage in strategic investments and collaborations with promising domestic startups based on its key subsidiaries, aiming to accelerate its entry into the global market. On June 9, ITCEN Global announced the launch of its open innovation program, "2026 ITCEN Open Innovation," which seeks to discover and nurture promising startups in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3. The program is co-hosted with the Draper Startup House Korea Center, a global accelerat June 9, 2026