COMEUP 2025: South Korea Startup Event in Seoul December

SEOUL, South Korea — The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced Thursday that the COMEUP 2025 startup event is scheduled to take place at Seoul's COEX convention center from Dec. 10 to 12.

Details were provided during a briefing at the Global Startup Center in Seoul, according to the ministry.

The event, now in its seventh year, is set to include conferences, exhibitions, investor meetings, and open innovation programs, according to the ministry. 

Seven countries—Saudi Arabia, India, Japan, Canada, and three others—will operate national pavilions, up from four in 2024. Australia, Angola, and Sierra Leone are expected to attend for the first time.

According to the ministry, 45 countries sent startup participants to the 2024 event.

Thirty-five companies, including Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai Motor Co., Nvidia Corp., and NHN Corp., have signed up for open innovation programs, the ministry stated.

The companies are expected to operate booths and hold meetings with startups.

According to the ministry, speakers will include Tarek Amin, chief executive of the Saudi state-owned artificial intelligence firm Humain, and Sung-hyun Park, chief executive of South Korean AI chip company Rebellions.

The program includes sessions on climate-focused social ventures. Eight startup teams from six universities are scheduled to present business ideas on Dec. 12.

Registration is open until Dec. 8.