The Korea Venture Business Association released an analysis of regional venture ecosystems in connection with the June 3 local elections and on the 11th suggested that a "regional venture growth roadmap" is needed as the top priority for future local government economic policy. The proposal was joined by related venture and startup groups including the Korea Startup Accelerators and Early Stage Investors Association (K-AIA), the Korea Venture Capital Association, the Korea Business Angels Association, the Korea Women Venture Association, and the Korea Fintech Industry Association (KORFIN).
The Korea Venture Business Association said the key task for regional venture ecosystems is not simply increasing the number of venture corporations, but resolving structural imbalances caused by the concentration of capital, talent, markets, and institutional infrastructure in the Seoul metropolitan area.
According to the analysis, as of the end of 2025, the number of venture corporations nationwide increased to about 38,000, but more than 60% were concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. While a considerable number of venture corporations operate outside the metropolitan area, access to investment, listings, and exit markets is centered in the metropolitan area, which was analyzed to constrain growth from the startup stage to scale-up.
An analysis of specialized industries by region using the location quotient (LQ) also identified differences in regional industrial structures. The metropolitan area was found to be specialized in advanced services; the Chungcheong and Gangwon regions in advanced manufacturing; the Daegu–Gyeongbuk and Southeast regions in general manufacturing; and the Honam region and North Jeolla in manufacturing overall.
The association emphasized that these results show the need to shift the direction of regional economic policy. It said a growth strategy is needed that goes beyond one-off corporate attraction or simple support policies to combine regional flagship industries with the technological innovation capabilities of venture corporations.
It also proposed delegating industry-related regulatory authority to local governments to achieve the substantive concentration of technology, talent, and capital within regions. The association plans to expand its role in the private sector, centered on its chapters nationwide. To that end, it presented a total of 48 policy tasks across three areas: ▲ promoting the growth of regionally specialized venture corporations ▲ expanding regional startups and venture investment ▲ regulatory innovation and creation of public-demand markets.
Song Byung-jun, president of the Korea Venture Business Association, said, "Regions already have growth potential for venture corporations linked to their flagship industries, but capital, talent, markets, and institutional infrastructure remain concentrated in the metropolitan area," and added, "Innovation in regional venture ecosystems is a key task to restore growth drivers for local economies and achieve balanced national development, going beyond simple corporate support policies."
Song added, "Even after the local elections, the association will continue policy discussions so that regional venture corporations can grow within a virtuous-cycle ecosystem that connects startup, investment, growth, and global expansion, by working closely with each local government."