According to the ministry on June 9, the project attracted a record 63,000 applicants nationwide, regardless of age, experience, or region, marking the largest government competition to date. Within just 37 days of its launch, the number of participants surpassed 20,000, indicating its popularity.
Among the selected 5,000 participants, 68.4% are under the age of 39. The youngest selected participant is 13 years old, while the oldest is 78, showcasing a diverse range of entrepreneurial enthusiasm across generations.
In the general and technology track, 4,000 participants were chosen. The youngest, 13-year-old Kim Tae-in, proposed a safety system that detects repeated school violence using only Wi-Fi signals. The oldest selected participant, at 78, suggested eco-friendly naphtha manufacturing technology utilizing food waste carbonization. An international participant proposed the development of an AI-based manuscript practice application for the TOPIK writing test.
The local track selected 1,000 participants. The youngest, at 17, proposed a regular check-in service linked to the community, while the oldest, at 72, suggested developing a K-apple energy powder stick that melts without water, based on upcycling ugly apples from Gyeongbuk. An international participant proposed a travel information platform for Japanese tourists visiting Busan.
Seventy-four percent of the selected participants are from local regions, with 70% from the general and technology track and 90% from the local track, highlighting a variety of innovative ideas from across the country.
In terms of fields, the IT sector accounted for the largest share at 32% in the general and technology track, followed by lifestyle at 17.8%, and bio-medical at 10.1%. In the local track, lifestyle ideas made up 48.2%, followed by food and beverage at 37.3%, and beauty at 9.3%. Notably, 29.3% of the selected items in the general and technology track included AI-related keywords, indicating the spread of AI across various industries.
Mentoring organizations such as CNT Tech and the Seoul Creative Economy Innovation Center, which oversaw the selection process, noted that entrepreneurship is not limited to specific demographics or technical fields.
The 5,000 selected startup talents will receive support for their entrepreneurial journeys. Each participant will receive 2 million won in startup funding, along with initial mentoring from reputable organizations and AI solutions to rapidly enhance their business ideas.
For the 58,000 applicants who were not selected in the first phase of the project, feedback from the mentors who evaluated their ideas will be provided. They will also have access to online and offline mentoring programs to refine their ideas.
Offline mentoring sessions will begin on June 22 and will be held across 17 cities and provinces, with a total of 40 sessions scheduled to accommodate participants who may have difficulty attending during the week. Participants will receive one-on-one expert consulting and business model training to enhance their ideas. Applications will open on June 12.
Online mentoring will be available through the "Everyone's Startup Platform" starting June 22. Participants can choose their preferred mentors for one-on-one online sessions, which will be offered three times.
To ensure a second chance, participants in the online and offline mentoring programs, as well as those who improve their ideas compared to their original submissions, will receive preferential treatment in the selection evaluation for the second phase of the "Everyone's Startup Project," set to launch in early July. This phase will select 10,000 participants, double the number from the first phase.
Minister Han Seung-sook stated, "We will fully support the 5,000 ideas selected in the first phase of the 'Everyone's Startup Project' to help them take flight and grow. For the 58,000 applicants who were not selected, we will establish a more robust entrepreneurial ladder in South Korea through systematic support for their reapplication efforts."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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