Korea Tech Daily — 2026-04-30
South Korea's venture ecosystem is surging, with new industry sectors including AI and semiconductors capturing 76% of total venture investment in 2025, totaling KRW 5.2 trillion ($3.52 billion). Meanwhile, Korea Venture Investment marks its first anniversary under new leadership, and Samsung and SK Hynix continue to dominate global attention ahead of an anticipated visit from a senior Nvidia executive to discuss physical AI partnerships.
Korea Tech Daily — 2026-04-30
Top Story
Korea's New Industry Sectors Sweep 76% of Total Venture Investment in 2025
South Korea's twelve designated new industry sectors — led by AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing — attracted KRW 5.2 trillion (approximately USD 3.52 billion) in venture investment in 2025, representing a remarkable 76% of the country's total venture funding, according to the SME Ministry. The figure underscores how decisively Korea's startup capital has rotated away from legacy sectors and into frontier technology. The milestone was highlighted at a press conference by Lee Dae-hee, CEO of Korea Venture Investment, who marked the first anniversary of his inauguration at the Kensington Hotel in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo-gu district on April 28.
Samsung · SK Hynix · LG
Nvidia's Senior Executive Heading to Seoul for Physical AI Partnership Talks
A senior Nvidia executive identified as Madison Huang is scheduled to meet with counterparts from both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to discuss cooperation in physical AI, according to industry sources. The meeting signals Nvidia's deepening interest in Korean memory and chip manufacturers as it accelerates its push into robotics and embodied intelligence applications. The visit follows record-breaking quarterly results from both Korean chipmakers.
ELS Issuance on Samsung and SK Hynix Quadruples as Investors Chase Yields
Korea's equity-linked securities (ELS) market is rebounding sharply, with domestic issuances tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix quadrupling compared to a year ago. Products are now offering returns of up to 24% annually with ultra-low knock-in structures, attracting retail and institutional investors eager to capture gains from the ongoing AI memory boom without direct equity exposure.
Samsung Workers Hold Rally Over Pay Gap with SK Hynix Amid Strike Threat
Tens of thousands of unionized Samsung Electronics workers rallied at a factory complex south of Seoul, voicing anger over the compensation gap relative to rival SK Hynix and threatening a lengthy strike that could affect AI chip production. The labor action comes at a sensitive moment as Samsung attempts to close the technology gap with SK Hynix in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips critical to AI data centers.
Naver · Kakao · LINE
Naver Prepares AI Shopping Agent and Search Tab for 2026 Launch
Naver is advancing its transformation into an "AI-native" company, with plans to launch an AI shopping agent in Q1 2026 followed by an AI-powered search tab in Q2. To support these ambitions, Naver is committing over KRW 1 trillion (approximately USD 691 million) in AI investments. The moves are part of a broader push to redefine its flagship search and commerce platform through agentic AI systems that can act autonomously on users' behalf.
Kakao Deepens Integration Between KakaoTalk and ChatGPT
Kakao is advancing a full-stack AI strategy in partnership with Google and OpenAI. The company's stated goal for 2026 is to progressively introduce new AI-driven features directly within the KakaoTalk messaging platform, with ChatGPT integration as the centerpiece. The effort positions KakaoTalk — already one of South Korea's most widely used apps — as a conversational AI interface for everyday life.
Naver and Kakao Racing to Build AI "Personal Shoppers" and Travel Agents
Beyond search, both Naver and Kakao are in a competitive race to deploy AI agents as personal shoppers and financial and travel service assistants. Naver's Choi recently confirmed that agents for travel and financial services will follow through 2026, all housed in a new "AI Tab" coming to Naver's homepage and app in the first half of the year. The competition reflects the broader industry shift from keyword search to autonomous, task-completing AI interfaces.
Startups & Investment
Korea's Twelve New Industry Sectors Captured 76% of All Venture Funding in 2025
Korea's SME ministry confirmed that KRW 5.2 trillion flowed into the country's twelve designated new industry sectors in 2025 — a figure representing 76% of total venture investment for the year. AI and semiconductors led the inflows, followed by advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and clean energy. The data was released on April 28, coinciding with Korea Venture Investment CEO Lee Dae-hee's first anniversary press conference, at which he signaled continued expansion of government-backed venture support mechanisms.
Kompas VC Carves Physical-World Niche Amid Geopolitical Startup Fragmentation
In an exclusive interview with TechCrunch published April 28, Kompas VC outlined how it is navigating increasingly fragmented global venture markets by focusing on startups that operate in the physical world — including logistics, manufacturing automation, and energy — rather than purely digital plays. The strategy has relevance for Korean investors watching geopolitical risks reshape where and how venture capital flows in the Indo-Pacific region.
Policy & Industry
SME Ministry Confirms Record Venture Flows into AI and Semiconductor Sectors
The Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups officially confirmed on April 28 that KRW 5.2 trillion in venture investment was directed into the nation's twelve new industry categories in 2025 — accounting for 76% of the country's total venture funding pool. The government framed the data as validation of its industrial policy targeting AI, semiconductors, advanced bio, and clean technology as strategic sectors for national competitiveness. Korea Venture Investment CEO Lee Dae-hee, marking his first year in office, said the organization plans to deepen its role in catalyzing venture flows into these priority sectors through 2026 and beyond.
What to Watch
- Samsung labor action: Whether the threatened lengthy strike by unionized Samsung workers materializes — and how it could affect production of HBM chips critical to AI data center demand.
- Nvidia–Korea chip summit: The outcome of Madison Huang's physical AI partnership discussions with Samsung and SK Hynix leadership could signal the next phase of Nvidia's hardware supply chain strategy.
- Naver AI Tab launch: Naver has committed to launching its AI-powered search tab in Q2 2026 — watch for the official release date and initial user reception as a barometer for AI adoption in Korean consumer internet.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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