Choo Miae: "Will Not Let Up on 'Jultakdongsi' Efforts to Ensure Business Success"

The 2026 Gyeonggi Startup Summit (G-SUMMIT 2026), where domestic and international startups, investors, and large and mid-sized companies gather to showcase innovative technologies and explore investment opportunities, opened at the Suwon Convention Center on October 14.

Hosted by Gyeonggi Province and organized by the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator, the two-day event runs through October 15 under the theme “Great Innovation.”

In her opening remarks, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae said, “One in every three venture companies nationwide is based in Gyeonggi Province, and about 195 technology startups are born each day.” She pledged, “We will create a venue where companies with strong technologies and investors, startups and large corporations, and Gyeonggi companies and global markets can come together.”

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae speaks at the 2026 Gyeonggi Startup Summit (G-SUMMIT 2026), which opened at the Suwon Convention Center on the 14th. Photo courtesy of Gyeonggi Province.

Governor Choo also highlighted the province’s role in supporting companies, referring to the Korean idiom “jultakdongsi,” in which a chick pecks at its eggshell from within while its mother hen pecks from outside to help it hatch. Her plan is to support the testing and commercialization of new technologies held back by regulations through regulatory sandboxes, and help companies expand globally through overseas joint research, local networks, and investment attraction. She added that the province would create more opportunities for startups to turn their technologies into actual businesses through open innovation with large and mid-sized companies.

She also proposed the idea of a “Gyeonggi Future Investment Corporation” as a foundation for long-term investment in future industries. “We will broaden the scope of investment to include fields that take time to deliver results, such as materials, parts and equipment, and research and development, and support both industrial infrastructure and corporate growth,” Governor Choo said. “Companies will drive innovation, and Gyeonggi Province will drive innovation across Gyeonggi.”

At the opening ceremony, a performance showed light from a summit objet delivered by a humanoid robot spreading across the stage, symbolizing how innovation in Gyeonggi Province connects with investment, industry, and global markets. The keynote speakers included Jung Jae-seung, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); Kim Nok-won, CEO of DeepX; and Reza Kazemi, investment director at Plug and Play Ventures. They shared their outlook on innovation and growth in future industries and startups.

A total of 184 organizations are taking part in the exhibition, including 162 startups and 22 related organizations, showcasing innovative technologies and the startup ecosystem. At the meetup zone, 480 one-on-one consultations based on advance matching between startups and investors are being held, with 42 global investors participating.

Global investment firms are also taking part to discuss investment opportunities with Korean startups. They include Plug and Play Ventures in the United States, Lakestar in Europe, SBI Investment in Japan, and InMotion Ventures in the United Kingdom.

Other programs include “Seudamseudam,” a networking event featuring CEO Noh Hee-young; the final round of the “G-Star Audition”; and a career counseling lounge. Details about the event are available on its official website (g-startupsummit.or.kr).

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