The "Everyone's Startup Project," aligned with the Lee Jae-myung administration's vision for a "National Startup Era," has officially begun its entrepreneurial journey. A startup support program for the 5,000 selected participants is now in full operation. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to select 15,000 aspiring entrepreneurs by the end of the year, providing them with funding and expert consulting.
On June 16, the Ministry held the launch ceremony for the first phase of the Everyone's Startup Project at the Startup & Venture Campus in Mapo, Seoul. Minister Han Seung-sook stated, "Everyone's Startup is not a completed business but a project developed alongside entrepreneurs. The government will listen to voices from the field and actively incorporate on-the-ground experiences and suggestions to evolve into Korea's representative startup platform."
![The launch ceremony for the first phase of the Everyone's Startup Project is held on June 16 in Seoul. [Photo: Jo Hyun-mi]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/06/16/20260616143746863513.jpg)
The launch event was attended by the 5,000 participants selected from a competitive ratio of 12.6 to 1, along with key mentors. A total of 62,944 applicants from across the country vied for the first phase. After a thorough review, 4,000 were chosen for the general and technology tracks, while 1,000 were selected for the local track. Among the participants, 68.4% are under 39 years old, and 74% are from regions outside the capital area. The age range of participants spans from as young as 13 to as old as 78.
Of the startup ideas in the general and technology tracks, 29.3% are related to artificial intelligence (AI), reflecting the ongoing trend of AI innovation across various industries.
Each selected participant will receive 2 million won in startup activity funding. Over 100 operational institutions nationwide, including Primer, FuturePlay, and KAIST, will provide initial mentoring and AI solutions to rapidly enhance startup ideas.
Minister Han emphasized, "Today marks the starting point for Korea's transition into a full-fledged National Startup Era. We will actively support citizens' ideas to transform them into businesses and enterprises, contributing to Korea's growth engine."
The government plans to broaden opportunities for more citizens to participate in the second phase of the Everyone's Startup Project. According to the Ministry, the upcoming phase will introduce a "University League" centered on university startup clubs and a "Youth Startup Camp" for middle and high school students. Additionally, a new "Global League" will be established for entrepreneurs aiming for international expansion in locations such as Silicon Valley, Singapore, and India.
Eligibility requirements will be relaxed. Previously, only entrepreneurs who had started their businesses within three years could apply, but the second phase will expand this to include those who have started within the last seven years, allowing for more participants. A joint evaluation system with three mentors and an AI verification model to filter out plagiarized or AI-generated applications will also be introduced. The number of operational (mentoring) institutions will increase to over 200, including new additions like POSCO Technology Investment, Shinhan Square Bridge Daegu, Douzone Bizon, and Daewoong Pharmaceutical.
The selection scale will also be expanded. The second phase of Everyone's Startup aims to select 10,000 participants, double the number from the first phase. Final results will be announced in September.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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