Korea’s Third Venture Boom: Why DeepTech Will Lead the Next Wave of Innovation

South Korea’s venture investment scene is poised for a significant transformation following the recent presidential election. Industry experts are increasingly confident that the next five years could herald a third major venture boom in the country, with a particular focus on DeepTech sectors such as artificial intelligence and robotics. As government support initiatives take shape and investment strategies shift, the post-election landscape offers both promise and challenges for Korea’s innovation ecosystem.

DeepTech Takes Center Stage

AI and robotics technologies are emerging as the primary focus areas for venture investors, with technical expertise now valued more highly than business models.

• Oracle Venture Investment CEO Bae Jun-hak has emphasized a preference for technology-centric early-stage companies, prioritizing technical capabilities over traditional business models
• Artificial intelligence and robotics are expected to be the leading investment themes throughout 2025
• The shift represents a significant change from previous venture booms that were more focused on consumer applications and services

Recovery After Six Years of Challenges

The venture sector has weathered difficult conditions since 2019, but a market recovery is anticipated in the latter half of 2025.

• Korea’s venture ecosystem has struggled through a perfect storm of COVID-19 disruptions and high interest rates over the past six years
• The post-election supplementary budget is expected to inject fresh capital into the market, potentially jumpstarting recovery
• However, industry leaders caution that only well-prepared companies will be positioned to capitalize on the improved conditions

Entrepreneurial Spirit as the Differentiator

The renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship focuses on innovation and creativity rather than imitation.

• True entrepreneurship is being defined as the ability to identify and seize new opportunities through innovation and creativity
• Successful ventures will distinguish themselves not by following established paths but by developing original ideas
• This creative approach to entrepreneurship is viewed as essential for building competitive advantage in global markets

Government Support as a Catalyst

The anticipated government initiatives following the election could provide critical momentum for the venture ecosystem.

• Post-election policies are expected to include funding programs specifically targeting DeepTech sectors
• Support for research and development in frontier technologies could accelerate innovation cycles
• Public-private partnership models may expand to help bridge the gap between academic research and commercial applications

The upcoming third venture boom in Korea appears fundamentally different from previous cycles, with a deeper focus on technological innovation rather than quick market exploitation. As the country positions itself for leadership in critical future technologies, the next five years may well determine whether Korea can establish itself as a global DeepTech powerhouse alongside more established innovation hubs.

Keywords

DeepTech, Korean venture capital, AI investment, entrepreneurship

Hashtags

#KoreanTechBoom #DeepTechInvestment #PostElectionVenture

한국어 요약

• 대선 이후 향후 5년간 한국에서 3차 벤처붐이 일어날 것으로 전망되며, 특히 AI와 로봇 등 딥테크 분야가 주목받고 있음
• 배준학 오라클벤처투자 대표는 사업 모델보다 기술력을 중시한 초기 기업 투자를 선호한다고 강조
• 지난 6년간 코로나19와 고금리로 인해 벤처업계가 어려움을 겪었으나, 대선 이후 추경을 통해 하반기부터 시장 회복이 예상됨
• 혁신과 창의성을 바탕으로 독창적인 아이디어를 개발하는 진정한 기업가정신이 성공의 핵심 요소로 부각