08.06.2020 - 12:12

Latest Issue: Green Series No. 127

Government Policies for Start-ups in Korea and its Regions: Motives, Mechanisms and Major Obstacles  |  Paper by Diana Schüler, Mihaela Suhalitca, Werner Pascha and Keunyeob Oh

Link to the paper:
https://www.uni-due.de/imperia/md/content/in-east/about/publications_green_series/paper127–2020.pdf

Abstract
The paper discusses the role of government policies and related support services in the formation of start-up businesses in South Korea. Start-ups can infuse an economy with renewed vigor, but it is questionable how Korea, an economy that has been dependent on a few large conglomerates in the past, can successfully encourage such start-up dynamism. The paper traces the economic history of start-ups and venture businesses in Korea and highlights its current situation. The analysis then focusses on explaining the start-up support policies, both on the level of central government and of the regions, paying attention to the intertwined role of the venture capital industry. A number of major obstacles are identified, in particular the ambiguous effects of social networks, the widespread risk aversion among potential entrepreneurs, the shortage of exit opportunities and the pronounced regional imbalances. The authors conclude that financial support measures should be streamlined, that the state should focus on creating appropriate framework conditions and that the regions should be given more independence from central government to choose their own path of development.

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support for this research from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and from the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea under the GEnKO program. They would also like to thank the other members of the research team and staff members of Chungnam National University and Duisburg-Essen University for their generous input and support.