The venture industry welcomed the government's 2026 supplementary budget, saying it simultaneously addressed crisis response and the foundation for innovation-driven growth.
On the 2nd, the venture industry said, "We highly value that the government proactively responded to external uncertainties such as the Middle East war and swiftly prepared a supplementary budget that goes beyond crisis response to embody a commitment to strengthening the startup and innovation ecosystem."
It added, "This supplementary budget timely allocates funds necessary for crisis response, including minimizing damage to export-focused ventures and startups and supporting management stability for small business owners," and evaluated, "In particular, by not stopping at crisis response and by including measures to invigorate the startup creation ecosystem and support the AI transition of regional small and midsize manufacturers, it is a policy that simultaneously seeks short-term crisis resolution and the expansion of mid- to long-term growth engines."
Song Byung-jun, head of the Korea Venture Business Association, urged, "The National Assembly should put people's livelihoods and economic recovery first and swiftly pass this supplementary budget so that the funds promptly reach innovative venture companies on the ground and become a catalyst for economic recovery and innovation-led growth." Sung Mi-sook, head of the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association, said, "Amid external uncertainties, this supplementary budget is an essential investment for the crisis response and future growth of women-led ventures and startups, including the AI transition."
Kim Hak-kyun, head of the Korea Venture Capital Association, which represents the investment ecosystem, said, "Amid continuing external uncertainties, this supplementary budget will be an important turning point that supports the stable functioning of the venture ecosystem and a sustained investment base for innovative companies," adding, "We hope the supplementary budget bill passes quickly so that immediate effects appear in the venture investment market."
Jun Hwa-sung, head of the Korea Startup Accelerators and Early Stage Investors Association (K-AIA), said, "Given the unavoidable international situation, the domestic and global economies are in a difficult moment, and startups on the front lines of entrepreneurship are likely to face an especially tough period," adding, "We expect this supplementary budget to provide substantial support to startups navigating a challenging business environment."