StartupBlink

3485 Top startups in South Korea for September 2026

We rank Kakao Pay, OP.GG and SK Hynix in South Korea along with 3482 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. South Korea startup ecosystem ranks #19 globally and #3 in East Asia.

Powered by

Category

Startups

Unicorns

Exits

Coworking Spaces

Accelerators

Top Unicorn Startups in South Korea for 2026

Fifteen startups have achieved unicorn status by exceeding USD 1 billion in valuation. Collectively, the top three unicorns in South Korea have raised more than USD 13B.
1st
Musinsa logo
MusinsaSB Score: 741

Discover a captivating online fashion platform offering a one-stop destination for all your style needs. Immerse yourself in the world of fashion with curated collections, trend reports, and shopping guides. Explore, shop, and stay on top of the latest trends effortlessly.

View Full Page
Website
www.musinsa.com/app
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$508.1M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Toss logo
TossSB Score: 740

Toss is a South Korea-based mobile financial service platform operated by fintech startup Viva Republica. Its application offers peer-to-peer money transfers, manages credit scores and bank accounts, access loan and insurance plans, split bill options, QR payment and other similar services that enable users to manage their finance. Toss was established in 2011 by Seunggun Lee in Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi.

View Full Page
Website
toss.im
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$1.4B
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Kurly logo
KurlySB Score: 710

Kurly is a convenient online platform for ordering food and managing logistics. Users can easily browse and order meals from a variety of restaurants, all while enjoying efficient delivery services.

View Full Page
Website
kurly.com/shop/main/index.php
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$556.7M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:15

Best Startups in South Korea for 2026

1st
Kakao Pay logo
Kakao PaySB Score: 707

Kakao Pay is the financial technology division of Kakao.  It allows over-counter payments, peer-to-peer transactions, bill payments, web banking, and more, and it will move to offer financial services such as loans and financing. Kakao Pay is a platform that aims for a new financial effortless that is completely different from the existing and difficult and cumbersome finance beyond just cashless and walletless life without cash or wallet.

View Full Page
Website
www.kakaopay.com
Employee range
1,001 – 5,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$132M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
OP.GG logo
OP.GGSB Score: 696

OP.GG creates profiles for gamers by analyzing game data from the games they play. Through these profiles, gamers can improve their gameplay and see the game performance of their opponents and friends. Currently OP.GG has services for League of Legends, Overwatch and PUBG with over 28 million monthly users from around the world.

View Full Page
Website
na.op.gg
Employee range
51 – 100
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$38M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
SK Hynix logo
SK HynixSB Score: 650

SK Hynix is a manufacturing company that specializes in producing and selling semiconductor devices for various sectors. It has consistently led the industry with smaller, faster, and lower-power semiconductors.

View Full Page
Website
www.skhynix.com
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$450M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
Buzzvil logo
BuzzvilSB Score: 619

Buzzvil operates as a lock screen ad platform provider. Its platform enables partners and advertisers to interact and grow together, providing something for users. The company is looking beyond the first screen of mobile to spread rewards to a broader audience. Buzzvil is driven to build new premium inventories with a wider variety of UIs and continue to grow as an advertising platform.

View Full Page
Website
www.buzzvil.com
Employee range
51 – 100
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$33.5M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
5th
KREAM Corporation logo
KREAM CorporationSB Score: 618

KREAM is a resale marketplace for authenticated limited-edition sneakers and streetwear. The platform of the company employs a bid-ask model with dynamic pricing mechanics and a thorough verification process, allowing buyers and sellers to trade limited releases in a secure manner.

View Full Page
Website
kream.co.kr
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$336.6M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
6th
Kakao Mobility logo
Kakao MobilitySB Score: 612

Kakao Mobility provides online taxi-hailing and parking services. Kakao Mobility brands include Kakao Taxi, Kakao Driver, and Kakao Navi. Kakao Mobility also provides its services.

View Full Page
Website
www.kakaomobility.com
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$240.2M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
7th
Bithumb logo
BithumbSB Score: 607

Bithumb is a cryptocurrency exchange platform. The South Korean-based platform is also known as a leading exchange for ether, the currency of Ethereum (which in itself is immensely popular in the country). Bithumb is operated by a company called BTC Korea.com Co. Ltd.

View Full Page
Website
en.bithumb.com
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$219.2M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
8th
Aha logo
AhaSB Score: 593

Aha offers personalized education support to help students succeed. Their services include tutoring, study skills, and test preparation. Aha's goal is to empower students to reach their academic potential and achieve their goals.

View Full Page
Website
www.a-ha.io
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
9th
Lezhin Entertainment logo

Lezhin Entertainment (레진엔터테인먼트) is a Korean startup that offers Lezhin Comics, a webtoon(web comics, online manga) service for mature readers. The Lezhin Comics app allows subscribers to view featured comics for free and create their own cartoon collection in their Android and iOS devices, also on web site http://www.lezhin.com

View Full Page
Website
www.lezhinus.com
Employee range
101 – 250
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$4.8M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
10th
Karrot Market logo
Karrot MarketSB Score: 572

Karrot is a hyperlocal community app which offers a secondhand marketplace. Karrot supports an eco-friendly lifestyle and local economy by promoting buying and selling secondhand goods locally. Since its launch in 2015, Karrot has become South Korea's largest second-hand marketplace and second-biggest e-commerce company. Karrot is currently available in select cities in four countries outside the home country, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Japan. As of March 2021, Karrot runs one of the largest and fastest growing consumer-to-consumer (C2C) mobile marketplace, receiving 15 million monthly unique visitors.

View Full Page
Website
us.karrotmarket.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$235M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
11th
Coupang logo
CoupangSB Score: 571

Coupang, a leading eCommerce company in Asia, offers a wide range of products and services for online shoppers. With a focus on convenience and quality, Coupang provides a seamless shopping experience for customers across the region.

View Full Page
Website
www.aboutcoupang.com
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$118M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:2102

Most Funded Startups in South Korea for 2026

The top three most funded startups in South Korea have raised total funding of more than USD 3.16B. Galux has 1.66% more funding than Naver Financial Corp..
1st
Galux logo
GaluxSB Score: 479

Galux is transforming drug discovery with its innovative AI-driven platform that utilizes GALAXY protein structures. By streamlining the design of new medications, Galux offers a state-of-the-art solution that accelerates the development process and enhances the potential for groundbreaking treatments.

View Full Page
Website
www.galux.co.kr
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$1.8B
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Naver Financial Corp. logo

Naver Financial offers a range of services, including payments, loans, insurance, cards, securities, and real estate support. It introduces tools like Paypet and business account services that support both personal and business financial needs. The service works with banks to support local economies and expand digital payment use. Naver Pay lowers payment fees for small and medium businesses and offers an offline terminal for payments, reviews, coupons, orders, and points. The company partners with financial groups and expands services through platforms like an unlisted stock trading system. Naver Pay also offers interest-earning accounts, point rewards, auto and travel insurance comparison, and a score system for loan access. It recruits talent, supports privacy protection, and provides channels for partnership and ethics inquiries.

View Full Page
Website
www.naverfincorp.com
Employee range
251 – 500
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$681.1M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Samsung Bioepis logo
Samsung BioepisSB Score: 494

Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. develops and produces biopharmaceutical and biosimilar products. Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. has a strategic collaboration agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Incheon,

View Full Page
Website
www.samsungbioepis.com
Employee range
501 – 1,000
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$667.5M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:2102

Top Hiring Startups in South Korea by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in South Korea have an median employee size that is between [10001+]
1st
SK Hynix logo
SK HynixSB Score: 650

SK Hynix is a manufacturing company that specializes in producing and selling semiconductor devices for various sectors. It has consistently led the industry with smaller, faster, and lower-power semiconductors.

View Full Page
Website
www.skhynix.com
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$450M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
2nd
Coupang logo
CoupangSB Score: 571

Coupang, a leading eCommerce company in Asia, offers a wide range of products and services for online shoppers. With a focus on convenience and quality, Coupang provides a seamless shopping experience for customers across the region.

View Full Page
Website
www.aboutcoupang.com
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$118M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
3rd
Pantech logo
PantechSB Score: 480

Pantech is a Korean company that manufactures mobile phones. The company markets its smartphones under the brand name “VEGA”. Its portfolio of VEGA products includes VEGA LTE: a motion recognition smartphone, VEGA No. 6: a smartphone with a full HD screen, VEGA Iron: a smartphone with metal rim design, and VEGA Secret Note and VEGA Secret UP: smartphones featuring fingerprint recognition technology. Pantech also markets its products overseas through its relationships with partners in the strategic markets of the United States and Japan. Pantech Wireless is an Atlanta-based subsidiary of Pantech & Curitel and Pantech Co., Ltd. that researches, markets, and develops wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America as a part of the Pantech Group. Pantech was ranked first for 10 consecutive times in the Supplier Performance Review carried out by AT&T, the largest telecommunications carrier in the United States. Pantech was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

View Full Page
Website
pantech.com
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
$76.3M
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)
4th
Nonce Lab logo
Nonce LabSB Score: 360

RONA’s path since 1939, when it was founded, is marked with important decisions and events that have made the Corporation what it is today: a major Canadian retailer and distributor of hardware, building materials and home renovation products.

View Full Page
Website
noncelab.com
Employee range
10,001+
Web Traffic (Monthly)
Funding amount
National Rank(South Korea)
Regional Rank(East Asia)
Global Rank(Worldwide)

Total amount:3485

Explore More Top Startups

Explore the Startup Ecosystem of South Korea

Population

(South Korea)

51.6 Million

new

Regional Rank

(East Asia)

3rd

0

Global Rank

(WorldWide)

19th

1

Visit

Top Cities for Startups in South Korea - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
2026 National Rank CityGlobal RankTotal Score & National ShareAnnual GrowthQuantity ScoreQuality ScoreBusiness Score
No Data Available
Microsoft Excel icon
Download CSV file