The Full List of 21 Unicorn Startups in South Korea (2026)
South Korea is home to 21 unicorn startups. The ecosystem is led by companies like Dunamu, a blockchain firm valued at $12B, and Yanolja, a travel platform with a $9B valuation.
The country's startup scene also includes major players in fintech and mobility. For example, Toss has reached a $7B valuation, while Kakao Mobility has secured $1B in funding.
Below is the full list of 21 South Korea unicorn startups at this time.
Top 10 Most Valuable South Korea Unicorns
Dunamu operates Upbit, one of South Korea's largest digital asset exchanges, and Stockplus, a popular social stock trading platform. They build accessible fintech and blockchain services that connect traditional finance with the world of digital assets.
| Valuation | $12B |
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Chi-Hyung Song, Hyoung-nyon Kim |
| Funding Amount | ₩968.5B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Altos Ventures, IMM Investment, Kakao Ventures, Qualcomm, Global Brain Corporation |
Yanolja built a leading South Korean travel platform where users can book accommodations, transportation, and leisure activities. They also provide cloud-based technology and software solutions to help automate operations for the global hospitality industry.
| Valuation | $9B |
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Lee Sujin |
| Funding Amount | $2B |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Booking Holdings, Partners Investment, GIC, SoftBank Vision Fund, SL Investment |
Toss operates a mobile financial super-app that brings a wide array of services like banking, payments, and investments into a single platform. They focus on simplifying personal finance management, making it more accessible and convenient for users.
| Valuation | $7B (Joined December 2018) |
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Seunggun Lee |
| Funding Amount | $1.4B |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series G |
| Top Investors | Goodwater Capital, HSG, Ribbit Capital, PayPal, Bessemer Venture Partners |
Kakao Mobility built 'Kakao T,' South Korea's leading mobility-as-a-service platform that connects users to taxis, parking, and navigation. They are known for integrating a wide variety of transport options into a single app, including designated drivers and electric bikes.
| Valuation | $4B |
| Headquarters | Seongnam, Kyonggi-do, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $1B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | LG Group, Google, The Carlyle Group, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, TPG |
MUSINSA has built South Korea's largest online fashion platform, a marketplace connecting millions of shoppers with thousands of emerging and established brands. They pair a massive e-commerce catalog with rich editorial content, helping users discover new designers and the latest in Korean fashion.
| Valuation | $3B (Joined November 2019) |
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2001 |
| Founders | Cho Man Ho, Mun-il Han |
| Funding Amount | $508.1M |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Sequoia Capital, IMM Investment, Wellington Management, Premier Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts |
Karrot Market built a community app centered around a hyperlocal secondhand marketplace. Their platform allows neighbors to safely buy and sell used goods, while also serving as a hub for local business promotion and community life.
| Valuation | $3B |
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Changhun Jeong, Gary Kim, Jae-hyun Kim, Paul Kim, Yong-hyun Kim |
| Funding Amount | $235M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series D |
| Top Investors | SBVA, Altos Ventures, Strong Ventures, Goodwater Capital, Kakao Ventures |
Tridge operates a global trade platform that connects buyers and sellers in the food and agriculture industry. Their digital marketplace helps make sourcing and trading agricultural goods more efficient and transparent.
| Valuation | $3B (Joined August 2022) |
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Hoshik Shin, Kangwook Lee, Minjong Chung |
| Funding Amount | $113.8M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series D |
| Top Investors | SBVA, Activant Capital, Forest Partners, DS Asset Management |
Lionheart Studio creates immersive massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) for mobile and PC. The studio is behind the popular multi-platform title Odin: Valhalla Rising.
| Valuation | $3B |
| Headquarters | Seongnam, Kyonggi-do, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Jae Young |
| Funding Amount | $924.2M |
| Company Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Wemade, Kakao Games |
Market Kurly runs an online platform for ordering high-quality groceries and food, built on its own logistics network. They specialize in a next-day delivery service that brings fresh products directly to customers' homes.
| Valuation | $2B |
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Sophie Kim |
| Funding Amount | ₩1018.5B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | HSG, G Squared, Hillhouse Investment, Launchbay Capital, Translink Capital |
Toss Bank operates as a fully digital bank, providing a range of financial services through its mobile application. The platform is designed to simplify personal finance, offering users intuitive tools for everyday banking and savings.
| Valuation | $2B |
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $949.3M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | E.LAND, Standard Chartered, Viva Republica, Altos Ventures, Premier Partners |
The Remaining 11 Unicorns Founded in South Korea
The ten most valuable unicorns are just the beginning of South Korea's startup story. Together, this next group of companies has raised over $2.4 billion in fields ranging from media and cloud to AI.
These companies show the depth of talent building new products across the country. Here’s a look at the other unicorns shaping South Korea's startup scene.
| Unicorn Startup | Main Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Valuation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 ABLY Corporation | Media | 2015 | $259.1M | $2B |
 MegazoneCloud | Cloud | 2018 | $672.9M | $2B |
 ZigBang | Media | 2010 | ₩432.9B | $2B |
 Rebellions | AI | 2020 | $457.7M | $1.4B |
 RIDI | Media | 2008 | $181.3M | $1.33B |
 L&P Cosmetic | Fashion | 2009 | ₩40B | $1.19B |
 HAEGIN | Gaming | 2017 | $128.8M | $1B |
 Kakao Enterprise | Cloud | 2019 | $100.4M | $1B |
 NAVER Z | Media | 2018 | ₩245.5B | $1B |
 Good Choice Company | Travel | 2015 | ₩50B | $1B |
 GP Club | Fashion | 2003 | $67M | $1B |
