Global Startup Commercialization Program: How to Prepare for 2027

Short answer: Yes, non-Korean CEOs can apply for this program. It offers an average of KRW 50 million (up to KRW 80 million) for commercialization and follow-up support. The application period for the 2026 call closed on April 10, 2026, 15:00 KST.

Status as of 2026-10-17: Closed

Key facts

Item	Details
Program	2026 Global Startup Commercialization Support Program
Organizer	Ministry of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부)
Who can apply	(Pre-) tech-based startups with 7 years or less experience (10 years for new industry businesses) and a non-Korean CEO. Must incorporate in Korea before agreement.
Foreigners eligible?	Yes, the program specifically targets non-Korean national CEOs.
Deadline (2026 call)	April 10, 2026, 15:00 KST (closed)
Support / benefits	Average KRW 50M (Max. KRW 80M) for commercialization, plus follow-up support through Global Startup Center.
Official link	Program Announcement (MSS)

Who can apply

This program is for non-Korean founders who want to start a business in Korea. To be eligible for the 2026 call, applicants needed to meet all these conditions:

• Your startup must be a (pre-) tech-based startup.
• Your company must have 7 years or less of experience since incorporation. If your startup is in a new industry business, this limit extends to 10 years or less.
• Your startup’s representative (CEO) must not be a Korean national. If your startup has multiple representatives, all of them must be non-Korean. Those with multiple nationalities can apply.
• You must complete incorporation in Korea, or establish your business in Korea, before the agreement for the program is signed.

Exclusions:

Certain conditions would exclude you from applying:

• If your business falls under specific types excluded by the Small And Medium Enterprise Establishment Act (Ref. 2 in the source).
• If you are already participating in other startup programs from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) or other central government/public institutions, and the agreement completion date for that program is three months or later than the application deadline for this program. However, participation in local government startup programs does not exclude you.
• If you participated in the 2026 K-Startup Grand Challenge Program.
• If you are under sanctions from the MSS for restricting participation in startup programs.
• If you are a member of the Evaluation Committee for this program.
• If you cannot enter Korea due to personal circumstances or visa problems.
• If you are prohibited from opening or transacting with accounts (program fund accounts) with a bank designated by the Implementing Institution.
• If your crypto-related business has not reported to or registered with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit.
• If you already received support from this specific program in 2024 or 2025.
• Any other person (entity) recognized by the Minister of SMEs and Startups as having grounds for restriction on participation.

What you get

If selected for the 2026 program, startups received:

• Commercialization Fund: An average of KRW 50 million, with a maximum of KRW 80 million. This fund is for activities like BM pivoting for doing business in Korea, and product/service advancement. Eligible expenses include outsourcing fees, intellectual property costs, labor costs, payment fees, travel expenses, and advertising/promotion fees.
• Program Period: Support is provided for approximately 10 months, from May 2026 to February 2027.
• Follow-up Support: Through the Global Startup Center (GSC), you can get one-stop services for non-Korean startups. This includes support for visa acquisition, incorporation in Korea, recruitment, expos for funding, matching with potential partners, and networking.

Important notes on funding:

• The selected ones shall receive government grants for the program through lawful methods and procedures, and use the funds for the purposes for which they were awarded.
• The responsibility for the program operation and program cost management lies with the business entity, while the startup`s representative shall be wholly liable in the event of disgorgement of the funds.

How to apply (step by step)

For the 2026 call, applications were submitted online. Here’s what was required:

1. Prepare for Korean incorporation: If your startup was not yet incorporated in Korea, you needed to establish a business entity in Korea and obtain a business registration certificate before the program agreement was signed. This can take time.
2. Access the online portal: Applications were submitted through the Global Startup Center’s website at https://www.startup-korea.com.
3. Complete the application form: You had to fill out the application form (Business Plan) in English, using the designated online form. Submitting an arbitrary form would lead to exclusion.
4. Prepare an IR Pitch Deck: This was required for applicants who advanced to the presentation evaluation stage.
5. Submit business registration certificate: If your company was already incorporated (either in Korea or overseas), you needed to submit the relevant business registration certificate.

Application Period (2026 call):

Applications were open from March 18, 2026 (Wednesday) until April 10, 2026 (Friday), 15:00 KST. No corrections or additional submissions were allowed after the deadline.

Evaluation and Selection

The 2026 program followed a three-step evaluation process:

1. Preliminary Screening: This first step reviewed eligibility and exclusions. Ineligible applicants were removed.
2. Document Evaluation: This phase assessed the feasibility and growth potential of the program plan. Candidates for presentation evaluation (about twice the number of finalists) were selected here. Extra points were given to applicants who completed corporate registration in Korea before the application deadline (3 points) or applied with a recommendation from K-scouters (2 points).
3. Presentation Evaluation: Selected candidates gave a 10-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A session. This took place in April 2026 (KST), either online or offline, and could be in English or Korean.

Final selection was confirmed through a Deliberation Committee after aggregating presentation evaluation results.

Program Timeline (2026 Plan)

• Notification: March 18, 2026
• Application, Submission: March 18, 2026 ~ April 10, 2026
• Preliminary Screening, Evaluation and Selection: ~ April 2026
• Final Selection: ~ April 2026
• Program (Fund for commercialization, follow-up support): May 2026 ~ February 2027 (10 months)
• Final Report and Inspection: ~ March 2027

Check before you apply

• Visa and Entry: The program excludes individuals unable to enter Korea due to personal circumstances or visa problems. Ensure your visa status allows you to reside and operate a business in Korea.
• Bank Account: The program excludes individuals or entities prohibited from opening and transacting with accounts (program fund accounts) with a bank designated by the Implementing Institution.

FAQ

Can international students in Korea apply?

Yes, the program targets non-Korean nationals. If you meet the eligibility criteria, including company age, tech-based business, and can incorporate in Korea, you are eligible to apply.

Is there an application fee?

No application fee is mentioned in the source texts for this program.

Can I apply if I already received government funding?

It depends on the program. If you are participating in another startup program from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups or other central government/public institutions, you may be excluded if that program’s agreement completion date is three months or later than this program’s application deadline. However, participation in local government startup programs does not exclude you. You are also excluded if you already received support from this specific program in 2024 or 2025.

What if my startup is not yet incorporated in Korea?

Pre-startups are eligible, but you must establish a business entity in Korea and submit a Korean business registration certificate before the program agreement is signed. Failure to do so will lead to exclusion.

Sources

• Ministry of SMEs and Startups: 2026 Global Startup Commercialization Support Program (Notice Page)
• Ministry of SMEs and Startups Notification No. 2026 – 173 (English PDF)
• Global Startup Center Website