SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - COMEUP 2025, South Korea's largest annual startup festival, opened Wednesday at COEX in Seoul, drawing hundreds of founders, investors, and corporate leaders from around the world for three days of conferences, exhibitions, and business matching sessions.
The event, held from December 10 to December 12, features startups from 46 countries and more than 270 companies presenting products and technologies across deep tech, AI, climate technology, gaming, mobile services and other sectors. Seven countries, including Saudi Arabia and India, have set up national pavilions to highlight their startup ecosystems.
Scores of attendees gathered in the hall for the opening ceremony, which marked the beginning of this year’s program under the slogan "Recode the Future."
Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Seong-sook welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of collaboration across the ecosystem. She noted that 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Korea’s Venture Business Association and the twentieth year of the government’s "growth ladder" fund. "Innovation cannot be completed alone," Han said, stressing that "startups, investors, global firms, and Korea’s major companies must work together for our startup ecosystem to grow and create new opportunities."
Before the ceremony, Han met with Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia’s state-backed AI company established this year by the Public Investment Fund. The two discussed cooperation opportunities in AI and deep tech, as HUMAIN considers setting up a Korean branch and expands its engagement with Korean startups.
Amin delivered a keynote speech outlining the rising importance of AI and digital infrastructure in shaping global industries. Rebellions CEO Park Sung-hyun, returning as a keynote speaker for the second year, shared insights from Korea’s semiconductor and deep-tech sectors and reflected on the evolving nature of entrepreneurial innovation.
Over the next three days, COMEUP 2025 will host sessions on AI, climate solutions, mobile ecosystems, youth entrepreneurship, and founder culture. According to the Korea Startup Forum, the main host of the event, more than two thousand business meetings are expected, with venture capital firms, corporate venture capital teams, and accelerators participating. 35 global, large, and mid-sized companies are also taking part through booths and special programs designed to facilitate open innovation.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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