President Lee Jae-myung has directed the swift resumption of the state-led startup initiative, 'Everyone's Startup.' The government will double the number of participants in the second phase to 10,000 and significantly enhance platform security and personal data management systems to prevent a recurrence of the data breach that occurred during the first phase.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the 'Second Phase of the Everyone's Startup Project' during an emergency economic meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ku Yun-cheol on August 13.
'Everyone's Startup' is a nationwide startup audition launched this year under the Lee Jae-myung administration's vision of a 'National Startup Era.' The first round attracted over 63,000 applicants, the largest number ever for a government startup and idea competition, when it opened in March.
However, the initiative was halted after a data breach on June 15, which exposed the personal information of all 5,000 selected participants. The government has since been investigating the cause of the incident and implementing measures to address security vulnerabilities.
Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of the project during a briefing on the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on August 4, stating, "Please proceed with the Everyone's Startup project without wavering, allowing anyone with an idea to challenge themselves without fear of failure."
The Ministry will begin recruiting participants for the second phase on August 20, expanding the selection to 10,000, which includes 8,000 in general and technology sectors and 2,000 in local sectors. The eligibility criteria will also be broadened to include re-entrepreneurs within seven years, up from three years. More than 80% of participants will be prospective entrepreneurs, and over 70% will be from non-capital regions.
Opportunities for re-challenges will also be enhanced. Applicants who were not selected in the first phase will receive additional points based on their completion of mentoring and the improvement of their ideas.
New specialized leagues will be introduced, including a 'University League' for college startup clubs and a 'Youth League' for young entrepreneurs. A 'Social Innovation Social Venture League' will also be launched to select innovative technology ideas aimed at solving social issues. Additionally, a 'Global League' will be established in collaboration with local accelerators in Silicon Valley, New York, Singapore, and India.
The number of incubators will increase to over 170, with new participants such as Hana Bank, Shinhan Square Bridge, and the Korea Water Resources Corporation.
To enhance fairness and convenience, the selection process will incorporate joint evaluations by three mentors and mandatory review committees for each institution. An 'AI verification model' will be introduced for plagiarism checks based on external data and AI generation rates. The use of startup funds will also be expanded to include online payment processing sectors.
The security system will undergo a complete overhaul to strengthen operational stability. The security of the Everyone's Startup platform will be improved based on analyses from external professional organizations, and the personal data management system will be enhanced. A continuous security inspection system will be established in collaboration with external agencies. Regional hub organizations will be designated to manage and supervise local incubators, and a new communication system will be created between the Startup Promotion Agency and these regional hubs.
The Ministry plans to select 10,000 second-phase entrepreneurs by October and will connect them with step-by-step incubation and competitions, along with public-private and inter-ministerial support, to create a pathway to actual startups.
Noh Yong-seok, the acting minister of SMEs and Startups, stated, "The intense challenges observed in the first phase have revealed new possibilities for entrepreneurship. The second phase of Everyone's Startup will open up opportunities for more citizens to take on challenges, actively support re-entrepreneurship and startups in various fields, and create a foundation for growth within the startup ecosystem after their challenges."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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