Jung Jai-hun, CEO of SK Telecom, met with heads of Korean startups at MWC26, the world's largest mobile communications exhibition being held in Barcelona, Spain, and pledged to be an "artificial intelligence (AI) companion." He pledged to support the nurturing of 500 startups in various ways over the next five years through 2030.
SK Telecom said on the 5th that on the 3rd (local time), CEO Jung met with leaders of 15 Korean startups participating in MWC26 and outlined SK Telecom's plans and vision to invigorate the startup ecosystem. At the meeting, CEO Jung personally reviewed the startups' technologies and business models and discussed challenges in expanding globally and collaborating with large corporations.
In particular, CEO Jung noted the government's "startup and venture policy vision" and its "comprehensive plan to leap to a top four venture powerhouse," expressing a commitment to fostering AI startups. SK Telecom plans to gradually increase the number of supported startups to 90 in 2027, 100 in 2028, 110 in 2029, and 120 in 2030, supporting an average of 100 companies per year over five years.
This year, SK Telecom will support 15 companies through its startup accelerating program "SKTCH for Good," 10 through its startup collaboration platform "SKTCH," 20 through partnership activities linked with the Daejeon and Sejong Centers for Creative Economy and Innovation, 10 through collaborations participating in government support programs such as the preliminary startup, early-stage startup, and startup leap packages, and 10 through one-on-one counseling meet-ups (Meet-Up).
This year, at 4YFN (4 Years From Now), an MWC26 side event, SK Telecom opened the "SK Telecom Startup Pavilion" and is supporting exhibitions for 15 innovative startups in AI and ESG. The 15 are Mesacoo Company, Bering Lab, Broz, Stress Solution, Sixty Hertz, Energi, Airis, AIV, Yukwae-han Project, Inbelab, Chiloen, Coxwave, Conexi, Cubic, and For Natures.
An SK Telecom official said, "CEO Jung Jai-hun's 'AI companion' pledge is not a simple declaration but an execution strategy to consolidation SK Telecom's AI technology, infrastructure, and business capabilities with startups to grow together," adding, "SK Telecom will continue comprehensive cooperation so that startups can leap into the global market."