Ministry of SMEs and Startups Opens ‘KSC Tokyo’ to Aid Korean Startups in Japan


The Ministry of SMEs and Startups(MSS) has inaugurated the ‘K-Startup Center Tokyo (KSC Tokyo)’, marking the fifth such center after Seattle, USA; Paris, France; Singapore; and Hanoi, Vietnam. With an eye on the expanding exchanges between South Korea and Japan, as well as the rapid growth of Japan’s startup ecosystem, KSC Tokyo aims to support promising domestic startups venturing into the Japanese market. It offers services such as office space, local settlement acceleration, investment facilitation, and networking to facilitate the smooth landing and growth of Korean enterprises in Japan.

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This opening of KSC Tokyo is the first overseas venture since the announcement of the “Support Plan for Globalization of SMEs and Startups”. The Ministry, transitioning from traditional export support to a more expansive global expansion support policy, plans to continue expanding KSCs in key hub regions where there is a high demand for entry by domestic startups.

The inauguration event for KSC Tokyo saw the attendance of around 70 individuals, including Kang Myeong-il, Minister of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, and Umezawa Takaaki, Chairman of CIC Japan, along with representatives from various local support organizations and venture capitalists such as KOTRA, KITA, Korea Tourism Organization, Korea EXIMBANK, Korea Creative Content Agency, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, Small and Medium Business Corporation, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Shinhan Japan Bank, and Fuji Startup Ventures.

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Following the opening event, an IR event for KSC Tokyo’s resident companies was held, with 13 startups participating. Notably, EverX, a digital healthcare startup focusing on musculoskeletal disorders, and CHEQUER, a data governance solution startup, garnered significant interest from local stakeholders.

On the 11th, a follow-up luncheon meeting was conducted, attended by successful Japanese market-entry companies such as CHEQUER, DoctorNow, Ovice, and Channel Corporation, as well as local startup experts including Shinhan Future’s Lab Japan and JETRO. They shared insights and experiences regarding the Japanese market and market entry strategies.

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Minister Oh Young-joo of MSS expressed gratitude to the startups for their efforts in entering the Japanese market. She pledged to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship in South Korea and ensure smoother global expansion. She emphasized proactive identification of challenges faced by Korean startups entering the Japanese market and committed to providing optimal support through industry engagement to ensure the success of Korean companies in Japan.


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